Hepatitis C decisions — 2004

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for a VA physician's opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's current Hepatitis C diagnosis and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Lyme disease, an undiagnosed bacterial infection (claimed as a Lyme-type disease), immune deficiency disorder, and hepatitis C. The claim for service connection for residuals of exposure to Agent Orange was not addressed.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, residuals of left lower lobe atelectasis (including COPD and asthma), and residuals of fractured ribs with atelectasis. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of hepatitis B and is granting compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C was incurred during his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not caused or aggravated by any incident of service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural defects and the need for additional evidence, including VA medical records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was not incurred during active duty and was instead due to his own drug abuse.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active service or herbicide exposure, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C and hepatitis B is as likely as not related to his in-service episodes of treatment for viral hepatitis.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his low back disability and hepatitis C.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service-connected pension purposes is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and updated employment information.

The veteran's claims for service connection and proper initial ratings on various conditions were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection or an appropriate rating for any of the claimed conditions.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Hepatitis C, which has already been granted with a 10% rating since August 27, 1999. The case must be returned to the RO to schedule a Board videoconference hearing.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development and consideration of his claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C has been rated at 40 percent effective July 31, 2003. The issue of an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for herniated nucleus pulposus is being remanded.

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis C infection is not service-connected, as there was no credible evidence of exposure to blood products or means of transmission during his military service.