Hepatitis C decisions — 2011

The Board found that there is no competent evidence showing an in-service event or injury to which the current diagnosis of hepatitis C may be related, and thus denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the Cleveland, Ohio RO due to her inability to appear on the originally scheduled Board hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing at the Atlanta, Georgia Regional Office.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service due to blood transfusions received during a hospitalization for knife stab wounds, and the Board finds that all elements for service connection have been met.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's jaundice/residuals of hepatitis C, status post liver transplant, are etiologically related to service and grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service, but the Board granted service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of a stressor during his military service.

The Board has determined that service connection for a hepatitis C infection is denied due to the late onset of symptoms and lack of evidence linking it to active service. The claim for PTSD remains pending as an additional examination is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C began during his period of active service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for schizophrenia and hepatitis C, but not for other conditions. The Veteran's schizophrenia is now considered a reopened claim, while his hepatitis C remains in its final denial stage.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially or materially to his death, and thus grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of any claimed conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The VA has granted a higher evaluation of 40 percent for hepatitis C, effective from July 2, 2008. The claim was initially denied but later granted with the current rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C. The Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of either condition at the time of his appeal, nor was there any credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted service connection. However, his hepatitis C claim remains incomplete as no opinion was provided regarding its etiology.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and determined that there is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hepatitis C onset was in service or causally related to service, granting service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C and lumbar radiculopathy was granted. The Board found that the current conditions are related to in-service events or exposures.

The Board has remanded the issue of an increased rating for hepatitis C due to a lack of issuance of a Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues are service connection for hepatitis C and waiver of recovery of an overpayment of disability compensation.

The Board has remanded the case for several reasons, including obtaining SSA records, notifying the Veteran of new regulations regarding PTSD claims based on personal assault or harassment, and scheduling a VA psychiatric examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD is service-connected.