Hepatitis C decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for a greenhouse under the VR&E Independent Living Program is granted as it approximates the criteria, given his service-connected conditions and need for independence in daily living activities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart disorder, hypertension, and a compensable disability rating for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen service connection for tinnitus. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of the low back disability remains denied, as does his claim for TDIU due to hepatitis C.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder and right hand disorder, both on secondary basis to his hepatitis C. The Veteran does not have a current dental disability for which VA compensation benefits are payable.

The Board denied service connection for meningitis and hepatitis C, finding that there is no current diagnosis of either condition and that the Veteran's hepatitis C was more likely related to post-service drug use than his military service.

The Veteran's headaches are not service-connected as there is no evidence of a chronic disability pattern and the examiner opined that they were not incurred in or caused by service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C was likely due to his own drug use, rather than service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The Veteran was presumed exposed to herbicides in Vietnam during his active military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hepatitis C did not manifest in service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA treatment records and providing addendum opinions from medical professionals.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis C, claiming it was caused by shared needles during air gun immunizations in military service. The Board has remanded the case to obtain a supplemental opinion addressing the etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Johns Hopkins Hospital and providing another VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient rationale in previous medical opinions.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis C, depression, and obstructive sleep apnea. The case is REMANDED to obtain outstanding VA treatment records, military personnel records, and determine the nature and likely etiology of these conditions.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic knee disability during service or until many years after discharge, and thus denied the claim for service connection for degenerative joint disease of the knees. For hepatitis C, there was no in-service diagnosis or exposure to known risk factors, and the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inconclusive VA examination and a need for further evaluation of the relationship between fecal incontinence and service-connected hepatitis C, including any medications used.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been rated at 20 percent since August 18, 2005. The Board found that the current evidence does not warrant a higher rating as there is no objective showing of hepatomegaly or weight loss, and his functional impact was described as fatigue.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C, concluding that there was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's current condition to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have hepatitis C and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to active military service and denied his claim. The hypertension issue was remanded as there may be an association with Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.