Hepatitis C decisions — 2016

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain missing service treatment records from Korea and Fort Hood, which are believed to contain information relevant to the Veteran's hepatitis C claim. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination to address the relationship between his hypertension and diabetes mellitus, as well as addressing any new evidence regarding this issue. The claim for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder are also inextricably intertwined with the hypertension claim.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claim for hepatitis C, and requests for his prison records have been made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if her current condition is related to her in-service military sexual trauma (MST).

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C or bilateral hearing loss disability related to his military service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a colonoscopy, including bone and blood disorder (including hepatitis C), bladder cancer, neo bladder, groin cancer, and bladder/prostate/kidney issues is denied as there is no evidence that the claimed conditions were caused by VA care or treatment.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim and TDIU claim are being remanded for further development as the VA examination provided did not consider all potential risk factors, including prior service-related drug use.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and hepatitis C have not met the criteria for a higher disability rating under VA regulations.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no causal link between his service-connected conditions and his underlying cause of death (hepatocellular carcinoma).

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew all pending claims except for the claim of dependency.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, an enlarged liver, and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for back disability has been reopened and is granted. The claims of service connection for hepatitis C and TDIU are deferred pending further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to an intertwined service connection claim for a psychiatric disability. The lower abdominal disability claim will be deferred until that claim is adjudicated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, hepatitis C, and major depressive disorder are service-connected. The Veteran is assigned a 70 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active service, and therefore grants service connection for hepatitis C. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder remains pending.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board finds that none of his conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death was determined to be hepatitis C resulting in acute renal failure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, prostate cancer, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C as a result of treatment at a VA medical facility in February and March 2000.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service and denied his claim for service connection. The hypertension claim is also denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C were denied. The Veteran was not granted any higher initial or staged ratings.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during his active service, and the Board finds reasonable doubt in favor of this claim.