Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his active duty service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board finds that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the cause of death. The Veteran had Hepatitis C which first manifested decades after separation from service.

The claims for hepatitis C, anemia (claimed as sickle cell disease), and liver mass were previously denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. New evidence received since the previous denial does not relate any current diagnoses to service.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hepatitis C and remanded it for further development, including a VA examination to determine whether the Veteran contracted hepatitis C during his period of service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a cardiovascular disorder and hypertension, secondary to hepatitis C, have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support these claims.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was rated at a 40 percent evaluation from February 22, 2017. The Board found that the symptoms of daily fatigue and malaise, with intermittent nausea, minor weight loss (approximating 20 pounds on average during a flare-up), and periods of incapacitating episodes not exceeding four weeks a year warranted this rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, effective April 13, 2009. The issue of service connection for hepatitis C remains pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for liver cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis C, which he claims was caused by air-gun inoculations during his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and liver cirrhosis.

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer, liver cancer, cyst of the left breast, and a liver disorder (including hepatitis C, fatty liver, and cysts of the liver) due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active service and is not related to any in-service events. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Englewood Community Hospital on December 11, 2013 is denied as the treatment did not constitute a medical emergency and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during active military service and is not presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with examinations to evaluate his service-connected hepatitis C and PTSD. The TDIU claim may also be affected by these developments.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as service-connected due to herbicide exposure. The claim for Hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's claim of hepatitis C, including a request for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was granted effective November 1, 2006. The effective date is the later of the date of claim or when entitlement arose.

The Veteran's claims for left and right ankle disabilities, hepatitis C, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (Neurocognitive disorder) have been denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of these conditions.,Service connection has been granted for Neurocognitive disorder due to a history of head injury during service.

The Board denied service connection for COPD, liver disability (to include cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C), osteoporosis of multiple joints, residuals of a nephrectomy, and residuals of an appendectomy as they were not incurred or related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C and liver transplant are not related to his active service, with the exception of a possible connection to IV drug use during service. The Board denied both claims due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.