Hepatitis C decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Englewood Community Hospital on December 11, 2013 is denied as the treatment did not constitute a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active military service and is not presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to evaluate his service-connected hepatitis C and PTSD. The TDIU claim may also be affected by these developments.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of hepatitis C, including a request for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was granted effective November 1, 2006. The effective date is the later of the date of claim or when entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disabilities, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Neurocognitive disorder) have been denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,Service connection has been granted for Neurocognitive disorder due to a history of head injury during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, liver disability (to include cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C), osteoporosis of multiple joints, residuals of a nephrectomy, and residuals of an appendectomy as they were not incurred or related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C and liver transplant are not related to his active service, with the exception of a possible connection to IV drug use during service. The Board denied both claims due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, PAD, and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder have been granted. The effective date is not specified as the claim was reopened.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD and hepatitis C, as well as his TDIU claim, are all denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not show intermittent fatigue, malaise, or anorexia due to hepatitis C infection, which is required for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service, specifically the air-gun inoculations he received in service. The most likely etiology for the Veteran's hepatitis C was his history of intravenous drug use after service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was not granted, but he received a combined rating of 10% for his right knee disability due to pain and instability.

The Board has remanded both issues due to the need for further development, including a VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C was related to his military service and if it contributed to his death.

The Veteran's tinnitus was granted service connection. The appeals for ischemic heart disease and hepatitis C were withdrawn.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence to support a link between his military service and the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for hepatitis C because the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has denied the Veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a dental disability, both of which were previously denied. The evidence submitted since the final decisions is considered cumulative and does not provide new or material information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence linking the condition to his military service.