Hepatitis C decisions — 2014

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding no nexus to active duty service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is service connected for accrued benefits purposes, and it was listed as the underlying cause of his death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis B and C, as well as a respiratory disorder including emphysema, are being remanded due to the need for further medical examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The claims for hepatitis C, posttraumatic stress disorder, and prostate cancer are all related.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus, type II are related to service. However, the claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is being remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim and TDIU claim are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, attributing it to a blood transfusion he received before 1992.

The Veteran's fatal hepatitis C had causal origins with subcutaneous blood exposure during his active combat service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions and treatment records, as well as a new VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to procedural defects, including the failure to issue a statement of the case for his disagreement with assigned evaluations and earlier effective dates. The TDIU claim will be adjudicated in conjunction with these issues.

The Board found that the Veteran's current Hepatitis C was not manifest during active service or within one year following service, and is not shown to be otherwise related to his active service.

The Veteran's bilateral hallux valgus was found to be aggravated by his wartime service, and hepatitis C is attributable to blood splatter during combat service. Both conditions are granted as service connected.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the Veteran's claims can be adjudicated, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver.

The Veteran's claims for HIV, Hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's death was due to hepato-renal syndrome caused by hepatitis C, which in turn was a consequence of his service-connected seizure disorder. The Board has granted DIC benefits and burial benefits at the service-connected rate based on this finding.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C and nasal disorder are not related to his active service, as there is no direct evidence of these conditions during service. The examiner opined that it would be speculative to determine if the Veteran had hepatitis C in 1973 or if this was the cause of his current hepatitis C diagnosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C disability is at least as likely as not incurred during his military service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver has not met the criteria for a higher rating, as his symptoms have not been severe enough to warrant an increased evaluation.

The Veteran's death was caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis, cirrhosis, and alcoholism. The cause of his Hepatitis C infection is believed to be related to his active military service.