Hepatitis C decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 30 percent disability rating for his service-connected hepatitis C, effective October 31, 2000.

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

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluation of PTSD, an effective date prior to May 9, 2001 for a 50 percent rating for PTSD, service connection for hepatitis C, and compensation for a stomach disorder claimed as due to VA surgical procedure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected, granting his claim.

The Board finds that the veteran's hepatitis C is likely due to in-service activity, including unprotected sexual encounters with multiple prostitutes during service and his post-service sexual history. Service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper VCAA notice.

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

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

The Board finds that the veteran's gastrointestinal hemorrhage, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, which contributed to his death, were related to liver and other gastrointestinal abnormalities demonstrated during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 40 percent, and the Board finds that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as he does not have hepatomegaly or substantial weight loss.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his death.

The VA denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on symptoms such as daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and an increased evaluation for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service. The claim for increased evaluations for post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the knees was not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and eligibility for Chapter 35 dependents' educational assistance, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial increased rating for hepatitis C and service connection for PTSD due to insufficient verification of claimed stressors.

The veteran is seeking to reopen claims for service connection for various conditions, including hepatitis C, cervical stenosis, a low back disorder, hypertension, cirrhosis or fibrosis of the liver, heart disorder, bilateral hearing loss, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The case is being remanded for further action.

The veteran's appeal is for an initial disability rating greater than 40 percent for hepatitis C. The RO has requested additional development, including obtaining outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected hepatitis C, effective from the date of receipt of the original claim. The veteran's hepatitis C is manifested by daily fatigue and nausea, hepatomegaly, and minor weight loss with no evidence of malnutrition or incapacitating episodes.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently have PTSD and denied all other service connection claims. The reasons for denial are provided in the decision summary.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and denied his claim. The issue of PTSD is addressed in the REMAND portion.