Hepatitis C decisions — 2013

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by fatigue, malaise, and some hepatomegaly but not to the extent that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, but further development is needed to determine if there is a link between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, carpal tunnel syndrome, and numbness of the left leg due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred during service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is more likely a result of his long history of drug use than any other identified risk factors and possible causes, including air gun inoculations. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

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

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of the claims as they are now moot.

The Board found that the Veteran's Hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of a diagnosis during service and the most likely cause of his current condition is a blood transfusion prior to 1992.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals of the claims for left ear hearing loss and right eye injury during a June 2011 Board hearing. As these claims have been properly withdrawn, they are dismissed.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition. The secondary service connection claims for chronic liver disease, hypothyroidism, anemia, and chronic fatigue with stress, depression, anxiety, and poor immune response are also granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and need for further examination.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be etiologically related to active duty service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

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

Service connection for prostate cancer residuals was granted with a 10% initial disability rating effective from August 20, 2007. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals included occasional urinal 'dribbling' that did not require the use of absorbent material, nocturia requiring voiding twice per night, and daytime urinary frequency requiring voiding approximately once every two to two and a half hours prior to May 28, 2013.,From May 28, 2013 onwards, service connection for prostate cancer residuals was granted with a 20% initial disability rating. The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals included ongoing urinal 'dribbling' that still did not require the use of absorbent material, nocturia requiring voiding four times per night, and daytime urinary frequency requiring voiding approximately once every one to two hours.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the previously denied claims for service connection for bronchial asthma and hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is at least as likely as not caused by his high-risk sexual activity during service, and granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is manifested by daily fatigue, anorexia, and hepatomegaly, which meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is presumed to have been incurred during service due to his exposure to risk factors common among Vietnam-era veterans, including drug use and needle sticks. The VA examiner concluded that the onset of the condition was related to his substance abuse during service.