Hepatitis C decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C had its onset in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining mental health records from the Veteran's service in Germany and providing an opinion on the etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C resulted in near-constant and debilitating symptoms including fatigue, anorexia, arthralgia, weight loss, and malnutrition. He had multiple incapacitating episodes within the past year.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and bilateral pes planus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his active service. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking it to service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus II, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disorder, to include degenerative joint disease (DJD), but denied service connection for a liver disorder to include hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is not related to service. Service connection for hepatitis C due to Agent Orange exposure in Korea is granted. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension are presumed to be caused by Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records from private providers and ensuring all relevant evidence has been considered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected, as it was incurred during his military service due to risk factors such as high-risk sexual activity. The other issues regarding hearing loss and right elbow condition are granted.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during his active duty service and ruled against granting service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is secondary to the Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a new VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is service-connected, but remanded for further development regarding his claims of hepatitis C and low back disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and inadequate examination, which may affect the determination of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2006 and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found no evidence of service connection for either condition, as the diagnoses were not related to active duty or any claimed in-service risk factors.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hepatitis C is at least as likely as not related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.