Hepatitis C decisions — 2003

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to missing SSA medical records. The veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Board finds that additional evidence is needed to decide the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, including records from the San Diego Naval Medical Center regarding a possible blood transfusion during hernia surgery and information about risk factors encountered by the veteran during his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development of evidence, including obtaining a complete copy of the veteran's VA Vocational Rehabilitation file.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the October 2000 denial of service connection for hepatitis C due to a lack of timely filing of a substantive appeal. The claim for an increased rating for infectious hepatitis is remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are more likely related to post-service alcohol abuse, drug use, and blood transfusions.

The VA denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of Hepatitis C due to new evidence submitted since the last final decision, which includes a VA examination and medical opinions linking the condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran experienced non-combat related stressors during service and has been diagnosed with PTSD. The claim for Hepatitis C is denied as it was not incurred or aggravated in service.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C, finding no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The currently diagnosed conditions are not considered related to the veteran's military service.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an increased evaluation for PTSD.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the Regional Office (RO) for obtaining in-patient treatment records from a British Army Field Hospital where the veteran received head injury care during service.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's claims for service connection for left knee degenerative osteoarthritis and hepatitis C. The case is being sent to the Board's Evidence Development Unit (EDU) for additional development.

The veteran's case is being remanded for further development of his hepatitis C service connection claim.

The Board has ordered further development in the veteran's case due to pending issues and evidence. The appeal is currently remanded for additional development.

The RO granted service connection for hepatitis C and combined it with the veteran's existing 60 percent disability rating for a duodenal ulcer, resulting in a total rating of 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions of Hepatitis A, B, and C were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The evidence did not establish a link between his current hepatitis diagnoses and his military service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that it is a direct result of his military service.

The Board found that the appellant's current Hepatitis C infection is related to his Army service, while denying service connection for Hepatitis B. The claim for Hepatitis C was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, a back disability, and a right foot toe disability. The Board found that these conditions did not begin during or as a result of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected, as there is no competent evidence linking it to exposure in Vietnam or any other cause during his active military service.