Hepatitis C decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and hepatitis C have been denied.,The Veteran's knee conditions (left and right) and associated scars are being remanded for additional examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further evaluation of cirrhosis of the liver associated with hepatitis C, as it was not evaluated in the previous examination. The original decision denied an evaluation in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's Hepatitis C is related to his service, specifically due to unsanitary air gun vaccinations during military service. As a result, the appeal for service connection for Hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hair loss claims are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's OSA claim is remanded as the examiner failed to consider her prior sleep disturbances.,The Veteran's hypertension claim is remanded because the examiner did not provide a rationale for denying secondary service connection.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder claim is remanded due to insufficient consideration of medical literature cited by the Veteran’s representative.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus claims are remanded as the examination results were inconsistent and the examiner failed to address relevant medical literature.,The Veteran's dizziness claim is remanded because the examiner did not consider whether her dizziness was a symptom of her service-connected headache disability or a separate disorder.,The Veteran's cervical spine, left hand, bilateral shoulder, hip, knee, and foot disabilities claims are all remanded due to inadequate examination reports that failed to address relevant medical literature and symptoms.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of its onset during a period of active duty or ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA. The Board also found that the condition preexisted his military service and did not worsen as a result of it.

The Veteran's claims for left shoulder condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, and acquired psychiatric disorder have been reopened. However, the claim to reopen for sleep condition, hepatitis C, and hypertension has not been successful.,Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 20 percent for sensory and motor neuropathy of the right lower extremity is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis C, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right foot disability, and back disability claims are remanded due to incomplete medical opinions. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further development. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hepatitis C, and compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right arm and shoulder conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for further development, including obtaining SSA records and VA medical records from Philadelphia. The Veteran's service connection claims will also require new medical opinions regarding his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left shoulder disability, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's cause of death and his in-service service. The VA is instructed to obtain additional records, including those related to a shrapnel wound and hepatitis C, and to provide an opinion on whether there is a causal relationship.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for right shoulder bursitis has been reopened and granted. The claim of service connection for hepatitis C is remanded, as are the issues related to special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is etiologically related to in-service exposure via contaminated air guns used for vaccinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a back disability and hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review of records.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 70% effective February 4, 2013. The rating for hepatitis C remains at 100%, effective September 8, 2016.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's Hepatitis C and liver cancer. The VA is required to obtain new medical opinions from specialists addressing whether the Veteran's conditions are related to his service, particularly his military service by air gun inoculation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis. The issue of GERD secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2 and the housebound status prior to May 8, 2013 have also been remanded.,Further medical opinions are needed regarding whether GERD is proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes mellitus type 2.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hepatitis C and cirrhosis were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for any disability rating above 10 percent. Service connection was granted for left and right ankle arthralgia as secondary to service-connected hepatitis C and cirrhosis.