Hepatitis C decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and residuals of hepatitis C have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and lumbar spine disorder, all secondary to service-connected hepatitis C.,Service connection is not granted as there is no evidence linking these conditions directly to service or service-connected hepatitis C.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for psychosis under 38 U.S.C. § 1702, finding that an active psychosis did not develop within two years of his separation from service. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for service connection of diabetes mellitus. The remaining issues have been remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C due to the Veteran's own drug use during service. The claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service in Vietnam. The Veteran needs to provide information about his risk factors for hepatitis C, and a VA examiner will need to determine if it is at least as likely as not that he contracted the virus while serving.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher rating for Hepatitis C, satisfied with the recent decision that granted an increased disability rating effective January 18, 2021.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate January 2018 VA examination, and the Veteran must be afforded a new examination to determine the nature and etiology of his Hepatitis C.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis B and C due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions regarding in-service risk factors.

The Board denied service connection for cervical dysplasia and COPD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions were not related to her military service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin disability, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, hepatitis C, and liver cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection is granted for COPD to include as secondary to service-connected CAD, but hepatitis C is denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,A rating higher than 30 percent for CAD and a rating higher than 70 percent for depression are both denied.,An effective date earlier than March 17, 2011, for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding when and how the Veteran contracted hepatitis C, which is necessary for determining service connection. The cause of death claim also remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disorder, right-side rib cage injury, Hepatitis C, and periodontal disease due to incomplete service records and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to post-service intravenous drug use.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Hepatitis C service connection was denied as the prior decisions were final and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, hepatitis C, and liver disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is remanded for further examination to determine if it was caused by his in-service drug use, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's cause of death was liver cancer, which may be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his service. A medical opinion is needed to determine if hepatitis C first manifested in service or is otherwise related to any inservice injury or disease.