Hepatitis C decisions — 2005

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of a back disorder and granted it. The claim for hepatitis C was not addressed in this decision as it is being remanded.

The Board finds that the veteran's service experience is consistent with combat, and his statements about stressors are credible. Therefore, the acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD is granted as incurred in service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 10% from May 25, 1999 to the present. The VA determined that his condition did not meet criteria for a higher rating based on incapacitating episodes or other manifestations of fatigue and weakness.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding whether the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, given his positive hepatitis C antibody test and exposure to a potentially infected roommate.

The Board has determined that hepatitis C is the result of disease or injury incurred during active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and obsessive-compulsive disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is currently rated as noncompensable, but a higher rating of 10% has been granted effective from July 2, 2001. The scar associated with the left eye injury remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board found no evidence to support a service origin of the veteran's hepatitis C and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to procedural issues and to obtain relevant medical records.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and a lung disorder characterized by shortness of breath due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding VA records.

The veteran's liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating from April 24, 1987 to September 27, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Service connection was denied for all issues.

For the period from January 27, 2000, to April 30, 2002, the veteran's service-connected multiple GI adhesions of the small bowel were manifested by moderate liver damage and disabling gastrointestinal disturbances without evidence of more than moderately severe adhesions with partial obstruction.,For the period from May 1, 2002, to present, the veteran's service-connected multiple GI adhesions of the small bowel were manifested by moderate liver damage and disabling gastrointestinal disturbances without evidence of more than moderately severe adhesions with partial obstruction.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, a back injury, hepatitis C, and hypertension and heart condition. The Board found no evidence that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case to allow for a VA physician with an epidemiology background to review the veteran's medical history and provide an opinion regarding his hepatitis C diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and finds that the veteran's diabetes mellitus is secondary to his hepatitis C. The issue of service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to hepatitis C is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA physician with information to determine if the veteran's fatal Hepatitis C and liver cancer were service-connected. The claims for accrued benefits will also be adjudicated on the basis of evidence available at the time of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and a need for further examination.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C and nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded to the RO for further action.