The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease, lower back and related left leg neuropathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus to military service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent due to his current symptoms being consistent with the current rating.,The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver has not met the criteria for an increased evaluation in excess of 10 percent due to his current symptoms being consistent with the current rating.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence showing a direct link between the Veteran’s service and his current degenerative joint disease, lower back or related left leg neuropathy. The condition was first diagnosed more than one year after separation from military service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C symptoms are currently rated as 20 percent disabling based on daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia (without weight loss or hepatomegaly), and requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication. These symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 40 percent due to incapacitating episodes having a total duration of at least four weeks but less than six weeks during the past 12-month period.,The Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver is currently rated as 10 percent disabling based on symptoms such as weakness, anorexia, abdominal pain, and malaise. These symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating of 30 percent due to portal hypertension and splenomegaly with minor weight loss.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative Joint Disease, Lower Back, Hepatitis C, Cirrhosis of the Liver
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18103494
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18103494.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it related to his active duty service and aggravated by his service-connected tibia fractures. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for depressive disorder is established based on direct evidence of a current disability (depressive disorder) that was incurred during active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C, lumbar DDD with strain, osteomyelitis, and loss of use of right foot disability rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance. Effective October 28, 2008, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC under various provisions.
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