Hepatitis C decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during his period of active service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed substantially and materially to his death, which was caused by hemorrhagic shock. The decision grants DIC benefits based on this finding.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Hepatitis C, and a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The Veteran's cause of death is not clear due to lack of service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C residuals is denied as his in-service drug use was willful misconduct, which bars him from establishing service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to an in-service event, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for a right ankle disorder, residuals of TBI, and hepatitis C as the evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, and a TDIU due to lack of evidence establishing a causal relationship between his active military service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and his hepatitis C was not caused by service. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was caused by his in-service intravenous drug use and thus not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining authorization from interested parties to access medical records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C disability.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service, but he is found to be unemployable due to his PTSD. The TDIU claim is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C disability is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

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

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted and others not.

The Veteran's vision loss is not service-connected due to the lack of evidence showing that his refractive error was permanently aggravated by a superimposed disease or injury in service.,For hepatitis C, the Veteran has been rated at 10 percent prior to February 18, 2012 and denied for higher ratings. The Veteran's symptoms have not met the criteria for a 20 percent rating due to insufficient evidence of incapacitating episodes lasting at least two weeks. He is also denied a disability rating in excess of 20 percent after February 18, 2012 as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for such a rating.,The Veteran's left fifth finger disability has been rated at zero percent and he is denied higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction, PTSD, and bilateral hearing loss disability. The Veteran's current diagnoses of these conditions are supported by competent medical evidence, and the causal relationship between his service-connected diabetes mellitus and PTSD is established.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for alcoholic hepatitis and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a relationship between his current hepatitis C diagnosis and in-service risk factors.

The Veteran's death was caused by Hepatitis C, which he contracted during his active duty service. The Board finds the evidence as likely as not that the Veteran was exposed to hepatitis C during his service in Vietnam and grants service connection for cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.