Hepatitis C decisions — 2015

The case is being remanded for additional development to address the etiology of hypertension and to obtain updated medical opinions regarding the severity of hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for Hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened and is granted. His diabetes mellitus, currently rated at 20 percent, remains in effect as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's respiratory condition and Hepatitis C are not service-connected, with no evidence of a direct connection to his military service.

The VA determined that there is not enough evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's hepatitis C and his military service, thus denying his claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder substantially contributed to his death from hepatic encephalopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatitis c.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, hepatitis C, and a lung condition due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient discussion of medical opinions and potential risk factors for hepatitis C, including intranasal cocaine use. The case is also inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent rating for hepatitis C was denied as it is not factually ascertainable that the disability increased in severity prior to February 15, 2006.

The Veteran's appeal for increased evaluations for hepatitis C disability and depression has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional VA examinations are needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and left ear hearing loss, as well as whether there is a current disability. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss have been rated based on their service-connected status, but the claims for higher ratings are denied as there is no evidence of incapacitating episodes or significant functional impairment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not productive of daily fatigue, anorexia, malaise, with substantial weight loss and hepatomegaly; or incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least six weeks in the past 12-month period but not occurring constantly. Therefore, he is currently rated at 40% for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C did not originate during active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back pain and mood disorder, have rendered him unable to engage in substantial gainful employment. The Board has determined that the criteria for a TDIU are met.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C, a bilateral ear condition other than hearing loss in the right ear, and entitlement to TDIU have been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma, was not caused or contributed substantially to by a service-connected condition. The evidence did not support a finding that Hepatitis C, which may have been incurred in service, caused his hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were withdrawn, and the Board found that there was no evidence of a heart disability, asthma, stroke and residuals of stroke, dental condition, hepatitis C, or bilateral arm nerve disability in service. The claims for diabetes and Dercum's disease were also denied due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his military service. The decision also determined that there was no new and material evidence presented since the previous denial in February 2008.