Hepatitis C decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, and arthritis due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's diabetes and hepatitis are being evaluated for potential secondary service connection with other conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver are being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. A new VA examination is needed to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for a higher initial rating for hepatitis C and for TDIU are being remanded to obtain additional medical records from SSA and VA.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is at least as likely as not incurred in service due to risk factors such as unprotected sexual intercourse and air gun injections during active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, lower back disability, migraines, hepatitis C, and a bilateral hip disability due to conflicting evidence and lack of clear medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for TBI, bilateral hearing loss, headaches, epilepsy, obstructive sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorders (including PTSD), hepatitis C, and hypertension. The claims were remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations and provide additional information regarding his in-service stressors.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C should be remanded due to a lack of medical examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to additional disability caused or aggravated by VA treatment in 2014, and for special monthly compensation at the aid and attendance or housebound level.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient reasoning in the VA examiner's opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C. The Veteran is seeking service connection based on exposure to human blood or bodily fluids and heroin use during service.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C and anemia, finding that the evidence did not support a relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and hepatitis C due to a dishonorable discharge from active military service in December 1969.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no clear evidence in the medical records to support a claim of high-risk behavior during active duty leading to the development of hepatitis C. The Board also noted that the first medical evidence of hepatitis C was 30 years after his discharge from active service.

The Board has stayed the adjudication of claims for service connection due to herbicide exposure, and has remanded two issues: Hepatitis B and C. The other issues have been stayed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and liver disease due to a lack of a VA examination, which is necessary to determine if there is a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.

The claim for service connection for hepatitis, including hepatitis C or infectious hepatitis is remanded. The claims for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are also remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C with parenchymal liver disease is rated at a 40 percent evaluation, effective July 9, 2019. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise regarding the severity of his condition and granted an increased rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including nosebleeds, neck disorder, allergies, asthma, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis C, bilateral knee disorder, and a psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), finding no new and relevant evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's arthritis of the left knee and hepatitis B and C are denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.,The Veteran's right knee arthritis is remanded for further examination, and his TDIU claim is also remanded.