Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and adenocarcinoma of the liver are not related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are associated with voiding dysfunction requiring changing of absorbent pads five times daily, warranting a rating higher than 40 percent.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma. The evidence suggests that it may be related to hepatitis B.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of hepatitis C is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to military service, including possible transmission through air gun injections of vaccines.

The Veteran's PTSD, hepatitis C, and tinea pedis were all granted service connection. The Veteran was awarded a rating of 30 percent for PTSD, 20 percent for hepatitis C, and no compensation for the bilateral feet condition.

The Board has determined that additional searches for the Veteran's service treatment records and National Guard/National Reserve records are necessary, as well as an attempt to obtain hospitalization records from 1984. The VA examiner who conducted the June 2012 VA ankle examination is requested to provide a medical opinion regarding whether any current bilateral ankle disability including arthritis is related to disease or injury in active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to address the Veteran's allegations of sharing razors and receiving air gun inoculation in service, as well as his February 2010 private medical opinion.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C virus was contracted during active service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's proteinuria and hepatitis C have been evaluated, but the psychiatric disability claim is pending further clarification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, left wrist DJD, and hepatitis C are related to service. The right shoulder, right knee, left knee, low back, and respiratory disabilities are not shown to be related to service. Bilateral hearing loss is also not shown to be related to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and hypertension are not service-connected as they are both attributed to his own willful misconduct, specifically intravenous drug use for hepatitis C and alcohol abuse for hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and his new and material evidence claims have not been successful. His erectile dysfunction is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's Hepatitis C claim has no relationship to service, and his eye disorder claim was found to be unrelated to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis C. The VA examiner opined that the current diagnosis is at least as likely as not related to heroin use in his second period of active duty service, but did not consider possible exposure to blood from injured servicemen during combat. The Board finds this inadequate and remands the case for a new examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is caused by his IV drug use during active service, and he has secondary cirrhosis of the liver with ascites and liver cancer. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to perceived deficiencies within a December 2014 VA examination, and both hepatitis C service connection and secondary diabetes mellitus claims are now pending for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and hypertension, finding that the evidence did not support a link to active service or any other compensable basis.