Hepatitis C decisions — 2022

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, major depressive disorder, hepatitis C, and a liver condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding exposure to herbicide agents in Korea.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete service personnel and treatment records from his Reserve and National Guard service. The AOJ is required to contact these units for missing records.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for Hepatitis C, major depressive disorder and anxiety, and an initial rating greater than 70 percent for PTSD.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to warrant readjudicating the claim for service connection for hepatitis C. The case is now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of Hepatitis C, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The liver disease claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability and a deviated septum, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C due to willful misconduct.,An initial rating higher than 20 percent for left shoulder arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and Bipolar Disorder, is now granted as service-connected.,His bilateral hearing loss claim remains pending due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to December 3, 2016. The Board granted the Veteran TDIU for this period.

The Veteran's gallbladder condition is granted as service-connected. The Veteran's hepatitis C and liver disease are denied as not being related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic liver disease with kidney failure, and a heart disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional development is needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there is no clear and unmistakable evidence that the conditions existed prior to service. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered direct service connections.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for flat feet, hepatitis C, residuals of venereal disease (to include herpes), right wrist condition, bilateral hip conditions, erectile dysfunction, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The claims are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and the claim for a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's hepatitis C is not considered service connected, and his psychiatric disorder does not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's claim regarding hepatitis C and his contention that it is related to in-service air gun vaccinations. A new VA examination is needed to address this issue.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for a compensable evaluation is denied.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated as noncompensable, and the claim for an initial compensable evaluation is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate medical opinions and new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and a need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hepatitis C due to conflicting opinions and a need for clarification on whether the Veteran's in-service drug use was caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's left foot ulcers are granted as service-connected, and the case is remanded for further development regarding effective dates and extraschedular ratings. The hepatitis C disability remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to malignant neoplasm of the larynx, hepatitis C, and hypertension. The VA medical opinions concluded that these conditions were not related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.