The Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for cirrhosis is denied as the symptoms are indistinguishable from those of his service-connected hepatitis C. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for hepatitis C on an extraschedular basis is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's TDIU.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not show distinct symptomatology for cirrhosis that could be evaluated separately from hepatitis C, and the combined effect of both diseases results in fatigue, malaise, and weakness with incapacitation of more than 6 weeks per year but not constantly or nearly so.
- Claimed conditions
- cirrhosis, hepatitis C
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- January 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19101683
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, jaundice, hypogeusia, and hyposmia as there was no evidence of a current disability during the pendency of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the claim for a heart disability due to insufficient evidence.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issue of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected hepatitis C due to an inadequate VA examination and medical opinions.
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