Hepatitis C decisions — 2023

The Veteran's hepatitis B and C did not manifest as near-constant debilitating symptoms prior to January 29, 2020. The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for this period.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder with alcohol use disorder. The claims of service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical examination.

The appeals seeking service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The claims for service connection of a right knee/ankle disorder, hepatitis C, and a right foot disorder have been denied. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and hepatitis C disabilities prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment from August 1, 2013 to December 8, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient opinions provided by VA examiners regarding his service connection claims. The issues include hallux valgus of the bilateral great toes and intractable plantar keratosis, bilateral knee disabilities, unequal length of the right leg, hypertension, dry eye syndrome, hemorrhoids, left shoulder disability, and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C, right knee strain, and bilateral pes planus, have prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to the relative equipoise in evidence supporting his claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a liver disability and sleep apnea, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to these conditions.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for Hepatitis C based on new and material evidence is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and a determination regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, including his exposure in Guam without masks or gloves.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C and its residuals, but the TDIU rating is still pending as it requires further evaluation.

The Veteran's service connection claims for traumatic sphenoid encephalocele and headaches are granted. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded.,The Veteran's service connection claims for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and surgically severed facial nerve are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C and knee disabilities. Additional VA examinations are needed.

The Board has remanded several claims, including those for hepatitis C and its secondary conditions, as well as the bilateral knee disability and back/neck disabilities. The TDIU claim is also deferred due to being inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and right knee disabilities, but has remanded the claims of obstructive sleep apnea and hepatitis C due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's Hodgkin's disease and hepatitis C claims are remanded due to the lack of evidence supporting herbicide exposure during service.,The Veteran's hepatitis C claim is also remanded for additional development, including obtaining records from care providers and a VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver condition (to include hepatitis C and cirrhosis) due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to military service, with the persuasive weight of the evidence against finding any causal relationship.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to a disagreement with the October 2021 decision, and now requires referral to the Director for consideration of an extraschedular TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claims during a hearing. The claim for TDIU has been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hepatitis C and right proximal tibia condition, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to July 9, 2019. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.