Hepatitis C decisions — 2019

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have caused significant occupational and social impairment, warranting a 70% rating from September 1, 2016 to January 24, 2017. The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, hepatitis C, and liver condition due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claim of a respiratory condition due to ionizing radiation exposure. The initial rating for hepatitis C remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in anatomical loss or use of both feet, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, or permanent bedridden status. The Board denied the claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status due to lack of evidence supporting such needs.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new examination. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be affected by the outcome of the hepatitis C claim.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was aggravated by his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, resulting in a grant of service connection.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied as there is no evidence linking it to active duty service.,Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine is not service connected due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or being caused by a service-connected disability. Service connection was granted based on aggravation by his service-connected lumbar spine disorder.,The cause of death, hepatocellular carcinoma resulting from hepatitis C, is recognized as service-connected.,An increased rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine is granted due to its severity and impact on employment.,TDIU is granted based on the Veteran's inability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for all of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including Hepatitis C, angina, bone cancer, an acquired psychiatric disorder (likely depression or anxiety), erectile dysfunction, GERD, herpes, hypertension, jaw disability, left arm disability, left knee disability, left leg disability, left shoulder disability, lung cancer, prostate cancer, sinusitis, and sore throat. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hepatitis C and his death. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the hepatitis C was related to service, if it was the immediate or underlying cause of death, or contributed substantially to the death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Congestive Heart Failure was granted with a 100% rating effective April 24, 2012. However, an earlier effective date is denied.,DEA benefits were also awarded based on the grant of service connection for CHF, but the effective date for these benefits cannot precede April 24, 2012.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder was granted service connection as it first manifested during service.,Bipolar disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, and hepatitis C were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional information regarding his functional limitations and which symptoms are attributable to Hepatitis C, cirrhosis, or thrombocytopenia.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C and an increased rating for TBI residuals were both denied. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran’s current conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board denied service connection for left and right knee disabilities, as well as benign liver hemangioma and Hepatitis C. The Veteran's current diagnoses were not shown to be related to his active duty service.,Service connection was denied because the evidence did not establish a nexus between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination to determine if his current diagnosis of Hepatitis C is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and it is up to the RO to consider this new information.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is remanded for further examination to determine if it is related to his service.

Entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn.,Service connection granted for chronic degenerative disc disease L5-S1 (lumbar spine disorder).,The effective date of the award of service connection for PTSD is denied, as it does not meet the criteria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C has been reopened and remanded. The rating for erectile dysfunction is also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service air gun inoculations and his current diagnosis of hepatitis C. The Board also noted that the Veteran had used intravenous drugs after leaving military service.