Hepatitis C decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial ratings are being remanded due to the failure of VA to contact him at his new address in Georgia. The examinations scheduled for June 2018 have not been conducted, and a copy of the Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) was sent to two prior addresses in South Carolina.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection of hepatitis C and found that new evidence supports a reopening, but still denies the claim as there is no medical evidence linking current hepatitis C to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is granted as service connected. The lumbar spine disorder claim is remanded for further examination and evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including schizophrenia), a back condition, and a respiratory condition to include COPD. The claim for PTSD remains denied due to lack of evidence of an in-service stressor. Service connection for hepatitis C was not addressed as it is unrelated to the other claims.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including those for hepatitis A, B and C, right Achilles tendinopathy, migraines (secondary to peripheral neuropathy of the face), cerebrovascular accident (claimed as stroke), hypertension, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy. The remand also includes a request for VA examinations to determine if the Veteran has current diagnoses of hepatitis A, B or C and whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his PTSD, Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spine, Hypertension, and Hepatitis C claims has been granted. The service connection for these conditions is remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is remanded as further development, including a VA examination, is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient nexus opinion regarding the cause of death. The Veteran's cause of death is liver cancer, and the Appellant contends it was related to in-service IV drug use.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a bilateral knee disability, hypertension, and hepatitis C due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's attorney. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension and Hepatitis C were denied service connection as there is no evidence of these conditions during his active duty. The Board found that the current diagnoses are not related to his military service.,For diabetes, left brachial plexus injury, bilateral knee conditions, lower spine condition (secondary), peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities (secondary), and special monthly pension claims, the case is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for hepatitis C was denied. The Board also remanded the cases of service connection for a neurological disability, an effective date prior to February 18, 2015 for the grant of an increased rating for PTSD, and a total disability rating for compensation based on unemployability due to PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an increased rating and earlier effective date for hepatitis C were both denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and there was no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to June 25, 2007.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver disorder, diagnosed as hepatitis C status post liver transplant, is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, low back disability, left hand disability (to include carpal tunnel syndrome), hypertension, and diabetes have all been denied. The Board found that the submitted evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, but remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided are inadequate for the claims of service connection for a back disability, Hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's neck, low back, right hip, and bilateral foot disabilities are being reviewed again as new evidence suggests a possible link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C are all being reviewed to determine if they are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and anxiety disorder as secondary to hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, and hepatitis C. The reasons given were that the conditions did not manifest in service or within a presumptive period, there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology, and there was insufficient medical opinion linking the conditions to service.