Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, as well as the TDIU and SMC claims due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining retrospective medical opinions that reconcile conflicting evidence.

The Board denied service connection for chronic hepatitis C as there is no current diagnosis of the condition and it was attributed to non-service related risk factors.

The Veteran's claim for a separate evaluation for cirrhosis is denied as the symptoms are indistinguishable from those of his service-connected hepatitis C. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating for hepatitis C on an extraschedular basis is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for schizophrenia, PTSD, and various other conditions have been denied. The claim for joint pain, right knee condition, status post left leg fracture with pin placement, eye condition, sinusitis, acid reflux, hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate, and athlete’s foot has also been denied due to lack of evidence of in-service injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to missing military personnel records and service treatment records, as well as proper notice regarding the DIC claim.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hearing loss service-connected conditions need to be re-evaluated due to recent assertions of increased severity. Updated VA examinations are required.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left and right hip disabilities, heart condition, hypertension, Hepatitis C, residuals of stroke, numbness and claudication in all four extremities. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to service, specifically his basic training. The SSA records are also requested as they may be relevant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C, which was caused by an accidental needle stick during service, substantially contributed to his liver failure and subsequent death. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has granted the reopening of claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a nervous disorder), hypertension, Hepatitis C, and substance abuse. The cases are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as there is no competent medical evidence of a current disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for gallbladder condition, hepatitis C, liver disease, and stomach disorder due to inadequate medical opinions in the prior VA examinations. The claims are now before the Board again.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a psychiatric disability, finding that there was no credible evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The claims for service connection for a right knee condition, an ankle condition, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for a left knee condition is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disability are related to service. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, secondary to hepatitis C, are intertwined.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it began during active service or is related to an incident of service, including the vaccination process where needles may not have been cleaned properly.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a chest disability. The claims for service connection for COPD, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, depression, loss of balance, sinusitis, upper extremity numbness, chest numbness, and increased ratings for a ventral hernia and surgical scar are remanded.

The Board denied claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's hepatitis C is linked to post-service risk factors such as intranasal cocaine use and tattoos. Cirrhosis is found to be secondary to hepatitis C.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been reopened, and the claim is granted. The claims for service connection for tinnitus, migraine headaches, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, degenerative arthritis of the right knee, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are all denied.

The Board denied service connection for left eye disorder, tinnitus, hepatitis C, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no competent medical evidence to support the Veteran's claims.,Service connection could not be established because there were no in-service incurrences or manifestations of these conditions.