Hepatitis C decisions — 2019

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted a non-compensable rating prior to November 18, 2015 and a compensable rating from that date. A separate compensable rating for cirrhosis of the liver is granted starting from November 18, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to obtain service treatment records from Castle Air Force Base regarding the Veteran's 1972 hospitalization for hepatitis C. The RO is instructed to attempt to retrieve these records and provide an addendum opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's hepatitis C was related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as anxiety disorder are reopened.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of hepatitis C, specifically in relation to service and air gun vaccinations.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability and hepatitis C, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's left shoulder and right shoulder osteoarthritis, unspecified depressive disorder, hypertension, hepatitis C, headache, diabetes mellitus type II, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are all granted service connection.,Service connection for sleep apnea is granted as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected unspecified depressive disorder.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that any hypertension diagnosed post-service is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a penis disability is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability, and the Board finds that any penis disability diagnosed post-service is not related to his military service.,The Veteran's service connection claim for psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder due to another medical condition with depressed features) is granted as it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hepatitis C.,The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C is granted based on new evidence that reopened the previously denied claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for asbestosis, hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus type II (diabetes), and an acquired psychiatric disorder to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to incomplete notification of prior decisions and need for additional development.

The Board has determined that additional opinions are needed to fully address the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential issues with the presumption of soundness and secondary service connection.

The Veteran was granted service connection for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the claim for service connection for Meniere's syndrome is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his hepatitis C was caused by in-service immunizations or if it was a result of substance use disorder related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, concluding that Hepatitis C and liver disease were not related to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is manifested by daily fatigue, arthralgia and malaise, requiring continuous medication during the period on appeal. The Board has granted a higher 20 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to any in-service events or injuries, and thus service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

Service connection for hepatitis C is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection for other specified depressive disorder with anxiety is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to any in-service events or injuries, and thus service connection for hepatitis C is denied.