Hepatitis C decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as his claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The decision found no legal basis for an increased rating for either condition and denied service connection due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II did not cause or contribute to his death from hepatic encephalopathy due to cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C and alcoholism. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn her appeal on the issues of increased ratings for hepatitis C residuals.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to his active military service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding that the veteran contracted hepatitis C during his time in Vietnam.

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

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the veteran's claimed hepatitis C due to a lack of medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his prostate cancer residuals was granted, with a current evaluation of 60 percent effective March 24, 2003. The claims for service connection for hepatitis C and thyroid condition remain pending.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the veteran's risk factors during service likely exposed him to hepatitis C. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, residuals of a right hand fracture, hepatitis C, and a left cheek scar as there was no evidence to support these claims. The veteran's major depressive disorder was not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was found to be incurred in service, and his seizure disorder is considered a recurrence of an existing condition. The Board granted these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have PTSD or depression related to his military service and denied all claims of service connection. The hearing loss claim is pending as there are conflicting audiometric test results.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension. The claims for service connection for glaucoma, hepatitis C, and PTSD have been addressed, with the PTSD claim resulting in a grant of a disability rating of 70 percent. The TDIU claim has also been restored.

The veteran's hypothyroidism is rated at 10% effective from the date of service connection, and his hepatitis C rating remains noncompensable.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased disability rating and earlier effective date for his service-connected hepatitis C. The veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as 20 percent disabling, effective January 15, 2003.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The Board finds that the complete service medical records are not of record and requests them from NPRC. Additional post-service treatment records should also be obtained.

The veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the intertwining nature with his claims for secondary service connection for alcohol and drug abuse related to his schizophrenia. The RO/AMC must develop these issues further before deciding on the hepatitis C claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have hepatitis C that is attributable to her active military service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to a lack of credible supporting evidence of the claimed in-service stressor.,Service connection for Hepatitis C was also denied as there is no objective evidence linking the condition to service.