Hepatitis C decisions — 2015

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, liver disease, neuropathy, and skin cancer. The appeal is mixed as some issues are granted while others are denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis associated with hepatitis C are being remanded to allow for additional development of his medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including paranoid schizophrenia. The claim for hepatitis C was denied.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD has been granted. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and hepatitis C are pending.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during service, and therefore grants service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of secondary service connection for rheumatoid arthritis remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not causally related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, PTSD, and Hepatitis C were denied. The claim for TDIU was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver with portal hypertension are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service, specifically presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C and anemia were denied as there is no evidence of active or chronic hepatitis C, and the Board finds that service connection is not warranted. The claim for anemia was also denied due to conflicting medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest within one year of service and is not related to his active duty service, specifically air gun immunizations. As such, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis B and C, assigning an initial noncompensable rating. The Veteran's symptoms include daily fatigue, malaise, hepatomegaly, and weight loss of about 25 pounds over the past four years. These symptoms are considered to meet the criteria for a 40 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7354.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not manifest during service and is not otherwise related to his active duty. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The case is REMANDED for additional development, including obtaining VA examinations and opinions addressing the claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, hepatitis C, right leg disability, left leg disability, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not related to his military service for accrued benefits purposes, thus denying both claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is service connected as it was incurred during his active duty in Vietnam, despite the use of IV drugs which constitutes willful misconduct. The examiner found additional risk factors from service that do not constitute willful misconduct and related to the current diagnosis.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 20 percent since September 16, 2011. The effective date for this rating is set to May 13, 2004.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active duty service and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration due to the inextricability of the claims for erectile dysfunction and hepatitis C.