Hepatitis C decisions — 2006

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 found no current skin disorder, to include toenail fungus, and denied service connection for this condition. The veteran's hepatitis C was diagnosed in 2002 at VA, but the RO must obtain all relevant medical records before adjudicating his claim. Regarding the left shoulder disorder, the examiner should determine if it is related to an injury sustained during service.

The veteran's service connection claim for missing tooth number 5 due to trauma in service is granted. The other issues remain pending or are denied.

The Board found that the veteran did not contract hepatitis C as a result of a blood transfusion performed by VA in May 1992, and thus denied his claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, hepatitis C, and a dental condition. The evidence did not support these claims.

The veteran's hepatitis C and intervertebral disc syndrome were not found to be service-connected, and the increased rating for his back disability was denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability claimed to have resulted from VA medical treatment, specifically the prescription of valproic acid for his service-connected psychiatric symptoms in early August 1996.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C in service or for many years thereafter, and concluded that the veteran's current hepatitis C is not related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's hepatitis C is more likely attributable to post-service activities than to his period of military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran was not infected with hepatitis C during his military service and denied his claim for direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing notice of the type of evidence necessary to establish a disability rating or effective date.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current Hepatitis C was incurred during active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The veteran's claims for headaches, hepatitis C, and hypertension were denied. The claim for tinea versicolor was granted with a compensable rating of 30%. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and peripheral vascular disease, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions as incurred in or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly PTSD, make him unemployable and the Board finds in favor of his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C and readjudication based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral plantar fibromatosis were not incurred or aggravated during his active military service. The claims are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and C, as well as his claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes. The decision found that he did not have current diagnoses of hepatitis A or B, and that his currently diagnosed chronic hepatitis C was not related to his service.

The Board found no current medical diagnosis of a residuals of a low back injury and denied service connection for this condition. The claim for hepatitis C with fibrosis of the liver is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.