Hepatitis C decisions — 2011

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's claim that his hepatitis C is related to service, and thus denied it. The issue of an increased rating for bilateral flat feet remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not attributable to his period of active military service and denied his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's current hypertension and hepatitis C.

The appellant's service-connected disabilities are sufficient by themselves to preclude him from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and industrial background, warranting a TDIU.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and depression are both found to be related to his service, with the Board granting service connection for both conditions.

The VA has determined that the Veteran does not have hepatitis C, but his lower back and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy disorders are aggravated by service.,The VA has also found that the Veteran's lower back disorder is aggravated by service.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as to the issues of entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C and a bilateral knee disability due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted a 10 percent disability rating effective January 4, 2011. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date remains denied.

The Veteran's current hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis A, which resolved without residuals during service, is unrelated to his current hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to unclear evidence regarding whether the Veteran currently has or had a diagnosis of hepatitis C, and if so, whether it is related to service. The claim will be further evaluated after additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied both his claim for hepatitis C and his claim for residuals of a back disability.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C and cirrhosis have been granted an initial rating of 10 percent. The Board has also found that the Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, granting a TDIU.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C, degenerative disc disease and osteophytosis of the lumbar spine with left lower extremity radiculopathy, thyroid disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis were not related to his military service or any incident thereof.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service and concluded that the current diagnosis is not related to service. The primary risk factor identified was a tattoo received after separation from service.

For the time period prior to June 2, 2008, the Veteran's hepatitis C was not shown to result in disabling or incapacitating episodes of disability, or cirrhosis resulting in weight loss, impairment of health, liver enlargement, muscle wasting and loss of strength, hepatomegaly, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, or hemorrhage from varices or portal gastropathy.,As of June 2, 2008, the Veteran's cirrhosis of the liver became characterized by episodes of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy refractory to treatment. For the time period from April 10, 2001 to October 2, 2002, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities precluded him from performing substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C originated during his active service and was not due to his own willful misconduct, granting service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection as it is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service. Service connection for Hepatitis C and Residual Scar of the Left Palm are pending due to lack of evidence.