Hepatitis C decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by end stage cirrhosis of the liver, which is related to hepatitis C. The Board finds that the Veteran received a blood transfusion during service and this likely contributed to his development of hepatitis C, leading to his death.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's current hepatitis C diagnosis and his military service, including an alleged in-service tattoo that became infected. The preponderance of evidence is against the claim.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to her period of active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, bilateral knee disorder, and hepatitis C are not related to his active service.,However, the Veteran's right foot disability is considered incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for clarification of risk factors and a new medical opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and increased the Veteran's disability rating for left eye maculopathy with headaches and blurred vision to 20 percent effective from May 20, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD.,Service connection was also denied for hepatitis C and degenerative disc and joint disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a statement of the case on the claim for service connection for hepatitis A and B.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim of service connection for infectious hepatitis (now identified as hepatitis A), and his entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection.

The Board determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not originate in service or until years thereafter, and is not otherwise etiologically related to service. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran incurred hepatitis C due to treatment at a VA facility.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records, Social Security Administration records, and post-May 2010 VA treatment records. The hearing request remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and evaluations were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service for most conditions, except for hepatitis C which was granted up to 30 percent prior to October 26, 2009.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in a previous VA examination and the need to address whether his hepatitis B and C (if present) were incurred during service or caused by any incident therein, including use of air gun or jet gun inoculations received in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO. The issues are service connection for Hepatitis C and an increased rating for bursitis, degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder.

The Veteran's hypertension and hepatitis C have been service-connected, but the evaluations assigned are noncompensable. The Board finds that a compensable evaluation is not warranted for either condition.

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

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of hepatitis C. The issue of entitlement to a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability remains in appellate status.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection, but the VA determined that it does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 23, 2007 for hepatitis C was denied as there was no new and material evidence received within one year of the November 1994 rating decision.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than March 31, 1994 for a 10% disability rating for tinnitus was also denied because the increase in symptoms associated with the service-connected tinnitus was not factually ascertainable prior to March 31, 1994.