Hepatitis C decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was granted, but the claim of service connection itself remains denied.,Service connection for hemorrhoids is denied as there is no evidence of more than mild or moderate hemorrhoids.

The Board has decided that the case needs further development due to incomplete medical records and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis, chronic liver disease, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was granted service connection, but his increased rating claims for degenerative disc disease, radiculopathy, and knee disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C had its onset during his service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at 20 percent prior to June 1, 2012 and increased to 40 percent as of June 1, 2012. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and tinnitus as claimed by the Veteran, did not preclude employment prior to May 18, 2011. The Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate that it is more likely than not the Veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities alone prior to May 18, 2011.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether COPD and hepatitis C were aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II, Hepatitis C, prostate cancer, and urinary incontinence due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder and PTSD), and diabetes mellitus due to potential service connection issues. Specifically, it is unclear if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents while serving aboard the U.S.S. Fresno in Vietnam waters.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and hepatitis C and B due to insufficient information regarding herbicide agent exposure during service. The case is being returned for further action, including obtaining VA-authorized non-VA treatment records and attempting to verify in-service herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of his disabilities, particularly those related to his right foot and back. The Veteran will need to undergo additional VA examinations to address these issues.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to lack of information about his employment history and duties. The Board requests the Veteran to provide an application for TDIU and any evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities alone render him unemployable.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, specifically respiratory failure, loculated empyema body cavity, liver cancer, or hepatitis C. The decision also mentions possible herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for a sleep disorder, an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus, and an effective date earlier than September 18, 2017, for the grant of service connection for tinnitus. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination. The Veteran has not provided authorization for release of his private medical records, which are necessary for proper evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and need for a new opinion regarding the cause of death, including potential secondary service connection.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the current disability is less likely related to military service. The Veteran's MOS as a food specialist suggests a lower probability of noise exposure.,Service connection for hepatitis C is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset and etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current diagnosis and active service.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of service connection for hepatitis B and hepatitis C due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's alleged risk factors during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (claimed as PTSD) has been reopened and granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted.