Hepatitis C decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain his SSA records and provide addendum opinions regarding the etiology of his cardiac disorder, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with ascites is related to his military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between any claimed conditions and active military service.,No new effective date has been granted as no earlier effective date claim was filed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the VA's duty to assist and potential errors in a previous decision.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain the Veteran's service treatment records and any outstanding VA treatment records. They are also asked to provide a medical opinion regarding whether hepatitis C, which was diagnosed in the early 1990s, is related to active duty or contributed to the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is currently rated at 60 percent, effective January 6, 2017. The rating reflects daily fatigue and nausea with six weeks or more of incapacitating episodes during the past year.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in service, as there is no evidence of such conditions during his military service. The Board concluded that these conditions are more likely related to post-military life stressors.

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete STRs and for a medical opinion regarding hypertension. The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder, hepatitis C, and hypertension are all at issue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions in previous VA examinations and incomplete medical records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his active military service, and as such, grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and Hepatitis C due to new evidence. However, it denied these claims as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has received notification from the appellant's representative that they wish to withdraw their appeal, leading to its dismissal.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was productive of daily fatigue, malaise, and arthralgia with intermittent anorexia and nausea from October 5, 2011, to November 22, 2015. From November 23, 2015, the disability was characterized by incapacitating episodes lasting four to six weeks in the prior 12 months.,The Veteran's hepatitis C was productive of daily fatigue, malaise and anorexia with substantial weight loss (or other indication of malnutrition) and hepatomegaly from November 23, 2015.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the reopening of a hepatitis C claim and the propriety of severing service connection for opiate dependence in remission with agonist therapy.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and fatty liver have been rated at 20 percent since March 29, 2006. The VA examiner found that the symptoms of daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia are present but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's service-connected Crohn's disease with right partial colectomy and terminal resection is currently rated at 40 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. A separate noncompensable disability rating was assigned for his hepatitis C.