Hepatitis C decisions — 2019

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for throat cancer and hepatitis C. The cases are being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left knee disability is granted. The claims for increased rating for left ear hearing loss and service connection for hepatitis C are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and for a right shoulder disorder under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to their interrelated nature, as well as the need for additional development.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his Hepatitis C claim was denied, and the rating for his Generalized Anxiety Disorder was increased to 50%. The issues of service connection for erectile dysfunction (secondary to a service-connected disability) and reopening of the Hepatitis C claim are still pending.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and related liver infection residuals are granted service connection, as is his kidney disorder which is secondary to his hepatitis C. The Veteran also meets the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has requested an expert medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for hepatitis C. The Veteran submitted additional lay evidence, and now requests that his case be remanded to the RO for consideration of this new evidence.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and denied initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities.,The Veteran's current diagnoses were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver disability and hepatitis C, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have PTSD, and thus denied service connection for this condition. The issues of service connection for Hepatitis C, Liver disorder (cirrhosis), and TDIU are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Veteran's appeals for hepatitis C and hypertensive vascular disease have been dismissed. The appeal for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left knee, lower back, upper back, and shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is not presumed to have hepatitis C or an eye disability related to his military service.

The application to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a low back condition was denied. Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity and Hepatitis C were also denied, while service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional service medical records are needed to support the Veteran's claims for various conditions. The case is being remanded to obtain these records.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated as 10 percent disabling due to asymptomatic status, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also meets criteria for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, migraines, depression, and fatigue.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and verifying his claimed exposure to herbicides in Thailand. The issues of service connection for PTSD, COPD, degenerative arthritis, eczematous dermatosis, GERD, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder remain unresolved.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to inadequate examination and lack of consideration of all evidence, including the Veteran's assertions about in-service events.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and hepatitis C are all granted as service connected. The Board found that the Veteran experienced acoustic trauma in service which led to his current conditions.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,Service connection for low back condition is not granted as the evidence does not show it began during service or is related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.,Service connection for neck condition is not granted as there is no evidence showing a diagnosis prior to service.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease rating remains at 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.