Hepatitis C decisions — 2018

The Board has granted reconsideration of the previously denied claim for service connection for bilateral foot disorders. The claim for hepatitis C is not supported by evidence that it was incurred during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a liver transplant. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was denied. For his hepatitis B and C, the Veteran received a 10% rating based on intermittent fatigue, malaise, anorexia, but without incapacitating episodes.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, frostbite of the hands and feet, lumbar spine disability, and cervical spine disability due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional development.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, left ankle disorder, left Achilles tendon disorder, and bilateral knee disorders were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service. The Veteran did not provide sufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between his current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD and anxiety disorder was denied, as the evidence did not show a relationship to service. His hepatitis C rating remained at 20 percent, with no new information provided that would warrant a higher rating.

The Board finds that the weight of the probative evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active service. The VA experts determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not etiologically related to active military service and identified his long history of high risk behaviors as more likely the cause of his condition.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for hepatitis C was withdrawn prior to the Board's decision. The HIV claim is granted with a 30 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board does not have jurisdiction to review any of his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service. The case will be reviewed again with a new opinion on the issue.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for updated medical records and an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis B and C diagnoses.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for a neck disability, chronic fatigue, joint pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms. The Veteran is not shown to have or have had visceral leishmaniasis. Joint pain and chronic fatigue are considered as manifestations of his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant notifying the Board of their desire to withdraw the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and hepatitis C, which he claims was caused by military service in Iraq, are related to his service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his TBI, hepatitis C, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and service connection claims.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to in-service personal assault. Service connection was also granted for hepatitis C, with a determination that it is at least as likely as not related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hepatitis C is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and hepatitis C. The Veteran will be asked to provide medical records from any healthcare providers who have treated him since service.

The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for Hepatitis C. The Veteran's prostate disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.