Hepatitis C decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver did not manifest during service or are otherwise related to his military service, including any exposure. As such, these claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver and found that new evidence submitted since the prior denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. However, the Board denied service connection as there is no probative evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to lack of combat exposure and insufficient evidence corroborating the claimed in-service stressors. Service connection for hepatitis C was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not shown during service or for many years after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied.,Hepatitis C was not shown during service or for many years after, and there is no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left cheekbone fracture is granted. The claims for hepatitis C and head injury are remanded for further development.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for higher evaluations for allergic rhinitis and hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including dizziness, bilateral hearing loss, gout, mood swings, defective vision, cramps and sweats, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, hypertension, heart condition, shortness of breath, depression, memory loss, chronic fatigue syndrome, muscle and joint pains, sleep apnea, headaches, liver disorder, and high cholesterol. The claims were denied as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C is as likely as not caused by exposure to body fluids during service, specifically his volunteer door gunner duties in Vietnam. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hypertensive Heart Disease (on a presumptive basis due to diabetes mellitus), and Hepatitis C. The claim for PTSD is granted as it relates to an in-service stressor. Service connection for Hypertensive Heart Disease is also granted on a presumptive basis due to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain additional medical records related to the veteran's employment with a shipyard and his service connection claims. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no medical basis to link the condition to his period of service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing SSA records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C is attributable to his period of active duty military service and grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records, including VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits documents.

The veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disability and hepatitis C were denied as the conditions are not shown to be related to his military service.

The veteran's death was caused by his alcohol abuse, which was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. As a result, the cause of death is considered service-connected.