Hepatitis C decisions — 2012

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to hepatitis C with cirrhosis, status post liver transplant. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his hepatitis C condition is remanded.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis B diagnosis and its relation to service. The case will be returned for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not due to his military service. The other issues of service connection for arthritis of the left shoulder, acid reflux disease, and hepatitis C are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining operative room records from his 1975 surgery and scheduling an appropriate examination. The Veteran may also be scheduled for a hearing if he desires one.

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C and kidney stones were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or treatment related to these conditions during the appeal period.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a current disability in either condition, and the Veteran did not provide competent medical evidence to support his assertions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD to the RO for further action. The bilateral hearing loss issue is also being remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and conducting a VA examination.

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

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 40 percent disabling, effective September 3, 2004. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as there was no finding of hepatomegaly or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected PTSD, which led to alcohol abuse and liver cancer. The Board grants the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim of hepatitis C is being remanded for additional development, including verification of his claimed exposure incidents and obtaining SSA records. An examination will also be arranged to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not related to his military service, including no credible evidence of continuity of symptomatology from service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and HIV, finding that the Veteran's intravenous drug use during service was not willful misconduct and therefore could be considered as a result of his service-connected otitis media.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

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

The Veteran's service connection claims for a bilateral foot disability, stomach disorder, and Hepatitis C have been granted. The Veteran is entitled to a 10 percent disability rating for his dorsolumbar scar, effective from April 15, 1998.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus and hepatitis C were not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, and therefore denied both claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran should be scheduled for a Travel Board hearing due to his incarceration, and there is no indication of withdrawal or inability to attend.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hepatitis C, and thus grants the reopening of this claim.