Hepatitis C decisions — 2009

The appeal of the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded to the RO for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) has been granted.

The Veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for his hepatitis C, effective October 4, 2006.

The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right elbow disorder, a right shoulder disorder, PTSD, hepatitis C, a right eye disorder, an ulcer, a scar of the right shoulder, and tinea versicolor were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted.

The appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found that the evidence supported service connection for hepatitis C, but not for bilateral hearing loss or tinnitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss in the left ear, a back disability, hepatitis C, chronic disability manifested by blood in the urine, bladder cancer, and melanoma were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or that these conditions were related to his military service.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the claim.

The Board denied service connection for a left wrist disability, diabetes mellitus type I, and hepatitis C as these conditions were not attributable to the Veteran's active military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disability, rectum injury, and hepatitis C as there was no evidence of a current disability related to his military service.

The appeal is remanded for a VA medical examination to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there is no evidence of the condition in service or for many years thereafter, and no credible evidence linking it to military service.

The Board finds that the competent medical evidence is against the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence of a nexus between his active duty and the current condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for boils, hepatitis C, residuals of malaria, a liver disability, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as there was no medical evidence of currently diagnosed conditions or credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance, but not to a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, or adaptive equipment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C infection, finding that it is less likely related to military service and more likely related to illicit drug use.

The Board denied service connection for bladder cancer as it was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was also denied.

The appeal is remanded to obtain a medical opinion that addresses all of the Veteran's claimed risk factors for hepatitis C.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there was no medical evidence linking the condition to active duty, and the appellant's claim was not supported by competent medical evidence.