Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for major depressive disorder has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal. The case is being remanded to obtain VA treatment records and provide a VA examination for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hepatitis C was as likely as not caused by in-service immunization via air gun. The Board granted service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not shown to be related to his service, and the Board finds that it was not caused or aggravated by any service-connected disability. The other claims of service connection are denied as well.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating greater than 10 percent for Hepatitis C has been withdrawn prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection, but the effective date for this grant is being determined based on when the claim was filed and whether an increase in disability occurred within one year prior to the filing of the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service, including air gun inoculations received in active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and the Board finds that it is more likely due to his intravenous drug abuse and unprotected sex with multiple partners.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C remains pending.

The Veteran's HCV is currently rated at 20 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on current symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for hepatitis B and C with portal fibrosis and cirrhosis is being remanded due to the death of the Veteran during the appeal process. The appellant needs to indicate whether she wishes to pursue the claim as a substitute or on accrued benefits.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were granted service connection with effective dates earlier than November 20, 2003. The 100% disability rating for hepatitis C was also granted with an effective date of December 5, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including due to air gun inoculations with shared needles. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C was granted at a non-compensable rating prior to December 21, 2011. From that date forward, the Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied. The Board also found no basis for granting an extraschedular evaluation or TDIU based on his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hypertension claim is pending and not decided.,The VA blood transfusion in December 2001 did not cause or worsen the Veteran's hepatitis C, as it was likely caused by his own drug use. The Veteran has been denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to a December 2001 VA blood transfusion.,The Veteran failed to provide information about his former wife's income during the relevant period, resulting in denial of nonservice-connected pension benefits prior to March 1, 2007.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for hepatitis C and hypertension have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the claims by the Veteran at a Board hearing.

The Board finds that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether hepatitis C is etiologically related to the Veteran's receipt of air gun immunization injections in service, and thus grants service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar disc disease is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for this condition is granted. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hepatitis C to his military service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a condition that pre-existed service or was incurred in or aggravated by service prior to August 13, 2002. The claim for REPS benefits is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his military service and denies the claim.