Hepatitis C decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to her military service and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and issuing a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The case is being remanded due to the Veteran not appearing for a hearing before a RO Hearing Officer on July 6, 2009. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C/liver disorder will be readjudicated.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examination. The issues of service connection for hepatitis B and C, as well as dental trauma, will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred or aggravated during active military service, and it was not caused by posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, specifically the use of jet air gun injections during immunizations. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and is unrelated to any incident therein. The cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome, was attributed to end-stage liver disease and hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate consideration of the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, including his assertions regarding possible exposure during service. The Veteran is requested to provide any additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder can be decided. This includes obtaining VA treatment records, providing VCAA notice, and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

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

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the claims for service connection for a deviated septum, low back disability, and hepatitis C can be adjudicated.

The Board has ordered a remand to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations and to attempt to contact him in order to provide his current address. The case will be readjudicated after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development due to the submission of new VA outpatient treatment records. The claims for hepatitis C and a kidney disorder will be reconsidered in light of these records.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, but the Board found that service connection for hepatitis C should be granted. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD is pending and must be remanded to clarify the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the VA examination in response to the January 2010 Remand is inadequate and requires further action. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim must be remanded for an adequate medical opinion, and his PTSD with major depressive disorder evaluation appeal must have a SOC issued.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosis of Hepatitis C is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability has been productive of daily fatigue and required dietary restriction throughout the appeal period, but not hepatomegaly. Effective April 27, 2012, a rating of 60 percent is granted for hepatitis C.

The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding it secondary to the Veteran's in-service parenteral heroin and cocaine use.