Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's claim to reopen his hepatitis C service connection was received on January 17, 2017. The earliest effective date for the grant of service connection is therefore January 17, 2017.

The appeal for an increased rating for tinnitus is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims of service connection for a back disability and Hepatitis C, and these claims are allowed. Further assistance is needed to determine if there is a current disability related to service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as it did not manifest in service or within the applicable presumptive period, and continuity of symptomatology is not established.,The appeal for service connection for right shoulder disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The appeal for service connection for right ankle disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,The appeal for service connection for neck disability is remanded due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service.,Further assistance is needed to determine if there is a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorder and bilateral foot disorder were not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (hiatal hernia with GERD) was not shown to be related to service.,The Veteran's gallbladder disorder with cholecystitis was not shown to be related to service.,There is no evidence of hepatitis C in service or for many years after service, and it is not linked to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with previous remand instructions regarding a VA examination for hepatitis C. The Veteran is required to undergo an additional VA examination by a physician specializing in liver disease, and his weight at the time of the examination must be compared with earlier records.

The Veteran's high cholesterol is not a disability for VA benefits purposes.,The Veteran's hepatitis C has no associated symptoms and does not meet the criteria for any compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Codes 7345 or 7354.,The Veteran’s scar, left side of face, does not meet the criteria for an increased rating as it is not manifested by visible or palpable tissue loss or characteristics of disfigurement.,The Veteran’s scar, left thigh, does not meet the criteria for any compensable evaluation under Diagnostic Code 7801.,The Veteran’s hyperpigmented scars over the right shoulder and right clavicle area do not meet the criteria for an increased rating as they are not manifested by visible or palpable tissue loss or characteristics of disfigurement.,The Veteran’s painful scars, head to toe, do not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent as they are not manifested by five or more unstable or painful scars.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental medical opinion and additional VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and fatty liver are proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia, as well as for VCAA notice.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder due to insufficient evidence regarding their etiology. The Veteran underwent surgeries during service, which may have contributed to his hepatitis C diagnosis. His psychiatric symptoms are believed to be related to a legal hold in Japan.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for Hepatitis C and a rash on his back and groin, but denied service connection for other conditions due to lack of evidence linking them to service. The decision is mixed as some issues were granted while others were not.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable by December 6, 2009. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was granted for the period from December 6, 2009 to July 14, 2010.

The Board has remanded the claims for tinnitus and hepatitis C due to inadequate opinions from VA examiners. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board dismissed the claim of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for Hepatitis C due to the Veteran's withdrawal at his August 2017 hearing. The remaining issues, including service connection and increased ratings for left knee disability, are remanded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right lower extremity sciatica, left lower extremity sciatica, and his variously diagnosed psychiatric disability are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes cavus and claw foot with hallux valgus of the great toe and first metatarsal hammertoes is remanded due to the need for an examination to secure a fully adequate opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there is no current diagnosis of hepatitis C and thus not meeting the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted the Veteran's applications to reopen his claims for service connection for low back disorder, left foot disorder, and migraine headaches. The application for hepatitis C was denied as new evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis B and/or C infection did not have its onset during service, was not caused by his service, or is otherwise etiologically related to his military service.

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

The Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not granted in full, with some issues being remanded for further development and others remaining denied.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's liver disorder, including hepatitis C and cirrhosis, is related to his service. The VA needs to obtain updated treatment records and conduct an examination to determine if any current liver disorder is as likely as not caused by in-service risk factors.