Hepatitis C decisions — 2017

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability has been rated at 20 percent since the initial rating period, and a separate 10 percent rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted effective March 21, 2015.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C and left ankle disability rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from October 13, 2009, to July 28, 2011. Prior to this period, his combined disability rating did not meet the criteria for TDIU.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for hepatitis C, which is now granted. The Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his intravenous drug use during service, which was linked to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability during or within one year after service. The Board found the VA examiner's opinion inadequate and assigned little probative weight to it. The medical evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current hepatitis C and his in-service hepatitis A infection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for a total disability rating on an extraschedular basis due to his inability to secure and follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C, a mood disorder due to general medical condition, and post-operative left knee injury residuals with scar residuals and traumatic arthritis.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claims can be fully adjudicated, including for a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, hepatitis C rating, right foot condition, and lumbosacral strain.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from the Social Security Administration and providing an addendum VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hypertension (secondary to hepatitis C), and dysthymic disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and development of records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and entitlement to an increased rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C does not warrant a compensable initial rating, and denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, eye disability, and right arm muscle deterioration disability as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was granted, and he received a 30 percent initial rating for his PTSD. The initial ratings for DM were increased to 20 percent from March 18, 2013, to May 31, 2016, and to 10 percent beginning June 1, 2016. Erectile dysfunction associated with DM was granted a separate compensable rating. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were all rated at 10 percent.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and plantar calcaneal heel spurs were denied. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating (level II) for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has determined that there is no service connection for hepatitis C due to lack of a medical nexus opinion.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video-conference hearing due to his request and current circumstances.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and his military service. The issue of entitlement to a compensable initial evaluation for dyshidrotic eczema is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found no current diagnosis of hepatitis C in the Veteran's medical records, leading to a denial of service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hepatitis C.,There is no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.