Hepatitis C decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and review, including obtaining additional medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service personal assault and whether hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board found no evidence of current cirrhosis or hepatitis C, and denied the veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C that is related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's initial rating for his left foot fracture was denied, and a higher rating of 30% is granted starting February 1, 2002. Service connection for PTSD remains denied. The claim for service connection on the secondary basis for the left knee disability has been reopened.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to his time in service, and thus service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of in-country Vietnam service and thus no presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. The Board also found no current medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for osteoarthritic changes of the acromioclavicular joint with associated impingement involving the left shoulder and for an increased rating for his recurrent dislocation of the right shoulder. The RO granted service connection for diabetes mellitus secondary to hepatitis C, but did not grant a higher initial rating.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current hepatitis B or C is related to service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and bilateral knee disability, finding no medical evidence establishing a nexus to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 7, 2002, for the grant of service connection for epicondylitis of the left elbow. The RO is instructed to issue a Statement of the Case on the issue of a rating greater than 30 percent for Hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for depression, a low back disability, a hip disability, and hepatitis C. The evidence does not support these claims.,Service connection was denied because there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to service or to a service connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence of a link between his active duty service and the condition, and drug use during service constitutes willful misconduct.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, depression (claimed as secondary to hepatitis C), and Meniere's disease (claimed as vertigo and an ear condition). The veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection in any of these cases.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus, finding insufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for syphilis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and organic brain syndrome due to a head injury. The evidence did not establish an etiological relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination.