Hepatitis C decisions — 2017

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by some weight loss and right upper quadrant pain, but no evidence of anorexia or near-constant debilitating symptoms. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating are not met.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining information about the Veteran's income and seeking any relevant SSA records. A VA examination is also needed to assess his service-connected disabilities' impact on employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and for an earlier effective date for a TDIU rating, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service exposure and the development of the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of the claims regarding hepatitis C and liver cancer.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his active military service or any service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been reopened and is now granted. Bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and ischemic heart disease are also found to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether he had tinnitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection for PTSD was granted effective August 13, 2012, which is also the earliest available effective date for SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing records related to a right hip injury and the need for additional information from the Social Security Administration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are being remanded due to the need for a hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back disorder is service-connected, but his hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 9, 2002. The Veteran's hepatitis C was initially evaluated as non-compensable but has been rated at 10 percent since December 22, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran failed to report for a VA examination scheduled in October 2016, and thus his claim of service connection for hepatitis C is denied based on lack of evidence. The claim of an initial compensable rating for hypertension remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not caused by his active duty service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, Diabetes Mellitus type 2, and Hepatitis C) have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since February 2, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, as well as his secondary service connection claims for a thyroid disorder, an upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, and gallstones are being reconsidered. The Board will provide additional development if necessary before deciding the case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not attributable to his period of active service and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to service, including inconsistent accounts of in-service blood exposure. Service connection was also denied for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) due to the appellant's assertion that it resulted from the Veteran's own willful misconduct.,The Board found no credible evidence supporting the Veteran's claims of in-service blood exposure and concluded his assertions were inconsistent with the available medical records.