Hepatitis C decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims for service connection can be decided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was more likely due to post-service drug use.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was initially granted with a noncompensable rating, but the RO later awarded him a 10 percent disability rating effective from January 3, 2008. The initial period prior to this date had no symptoms and thus received a noncompensable rating.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and denied his claim.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a causal link between the Veteran's currently manifested hepatitis C and service or any in-service risk factors, aside from intravenous drug use.

The Board has ordered a new examination to reconsider the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, given an inaccurate understanding of the evidence in the previous examination. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his in-service tattoos and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left knee disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.,The Board also denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, concluding that there was insufficient evidence linking the condition to active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by Hepatitis C, which is related to his active service. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for a VA examination to determine if hepatitis C is related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anxiety disorder with depression and hepatitis C, as well as his claim for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability. The appeals were based on direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for chronic liver disease, including hepatitis C; kidney disorder; and psychiatric disability (depression) have been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a connection to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Hepatitis C, which he claims is due to an air gun injection vaccination received at Fort Jackson in June 1996. The case is being remanded for further development including verification of any service between May 1996 and November 1998, obtaining relevant service treatment records, and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board found that the Veteran has hepatitis C but denied service connection as there was no evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and finds that it is more likely than not related to in-service inoculations using an air gun, which may have resulted in a blood transfusion exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for hepatitis C was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating effective from April 23, 2001. The current appeal seeks an increase in the rating to a higher level.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate them.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was initially granted service connection, but the RO has not assigned a compensable rating for the period prior to July 2, 2001. For the period from June 28, 2002 to June 27, 2002, he is rated at 20 percent. Beginning on June 25, 2009, his rating has been increased to 50 percent.