Hepatitis C decisions — 2009

The veteran's service connection for hepatitis C was granted based on the evidence indicating it is as likely as not that his condition is related to in-service exposure.

The veteran's non-service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there was no evidence linking the disability to injury or disease in service, and the earliest positive test result was many years after discharge.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise and, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran, service connection for hepatitis C is warranted.

The veteran was granted service connection for Hepatitis C, but the claim for chloracne was denied.

The veteran's claim for a disability rating higher than 10 percent for hepatitis C was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, the residuals of a fall, and for COPD, ulcers, arthritis, hepatitis C, depression, and schizoaffective disorder as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board denied the claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for death due to treatment at a VA facility, as there was no evidence that the veteran's service-connected hepatitis C caused his death.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to hepatitis C, which was not shown to be related to his active duty service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and the claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was granted.

The Board remands the case for a medical opinion to determine if the veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, including air gun inoculations given during service.

The veteran was granted a 100 percent rating for PTSD effective from September 26, 2005.

The Board denied entitlement to service connection for a chronic cardiac disability, hypercholesterolemia, psychiatric disability, presbyopia, hepatitis C, and bilateral hip disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied as there is no competent medical evidence of record indicating that the condition is causally or etiologically related to his military service.

The veteran's claims for an increased rating for hepatitis C and secondary service connection for anxiety and depression were denied.

The veteran was not service-connected for any disability at the time of his death, and did not have a pending claim for hepatitis B or C.

The veteran's hepatitis C was granted a higher evaluation of 20 percent, as the evidence showed daily fatigue and malaise requiring continuous medication.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development of evidence regarding the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C with liver damage.

The appeal was remanded for an additional opinion regarding the service connection of Hepatitis C virus.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include bipolar disorder and PTSD, as well as hepatitis C, finding that the conditions pre-existed service and were not aggravated by military service.