Hepatitis C decisions — 2004

The Board has received notification from the appellant that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Board denied service connection for nicotine dependence and a higher initial evaluation for post-traumatic stress disorder. The issues of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C remain in appellate status.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of the issues related to service connection for hepatitis C, including severance, evaluation, and effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding whether hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, hypertension, cardiomyopathy with history of congestive heart failure, and PTSD. The Board found that there was no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that both conditions are due to drug abuse.

The veteran's claims for service connection for tuberculosis, hepatitis-C, hypertension, and residuals of a left eye injury have all been denied as there is no evidence to support these conditions were incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis, finding no competent evidence linking the current condition to service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion on the etiology of his condition.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C and metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma of the liver are not related to his military service, as they were likely caused by intravenous drug use during his time in service.

The veteran's hepatitis A, B, and C have been granted service connection, but the evaluation remains noncompensable. The case is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess current severity.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and right ulnar neuropathy, do not render him unable to obtain or retain substantially gainful employment.

The veteran's claim of entitlement to a permanent and total disability rating for pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for proper notification, additional medical evidence, and an updated VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred in service, as they are more likely due to his own intravenous drug use during service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the 50 percent evaluation of PTSD is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is on appeal.,The veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a stomach disorder due to VA surgery in April 1992 is on appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is currently asymptomatic and not productive of any compensable symptoms, thus denying a compensable rating for the condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his TDIU rating, finding that September 14, 1999 was the earliest date of factually ascertainable increase in disability due to his service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, reopening the claim based on new and material evidence. The immediate cause of death was listed as congestive heart failure with cirrhosis of the liver and Hepatitis C as contributing conditions.

The Board found no evidence linking hepatitis C, depression, or cervical spine degenerative disc disease to service and denied the claims.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service or for many years afterward, and it is not etiologically related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied.