Hepatitis C Board decisions

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

The Board found that there is no current diagnosis for hepatitis C, a heart disorder claimed as chest pain, or gunshot wound residuals of the right foot. Therefore, service connection cannot be granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of a 100% disability rating for PTSD effective from December 12, 2013. As such, no further action is required on any remaining issues.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding his right knee disability and Hepatitis C. The case will be returned to the Board for further action.

The Veteran's left wrist condition, diagnosed as a ganglion cyst, warrants a compensable rating of 10 percent. The Board has granted service connection for this condition and denied the remaining issues on appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD, as well as his hepatitis C, are related to service. The claim for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination to assess the current severity of his hepatitis C.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination regarding the Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was incurred during his military service and is not due to willful misconduct. The VA examiner opined that the hepatitis C is more likely related to substance abuse, specifically cocaine use.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and considering new evidence. The Veteran's claim of service connection for hepatitis C is pending.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, traumatic brain injury, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), alcoholism, and hepatitis C were denied as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no provision in VA regulations allowing for an effective date prior to August 17, 2007.

The Veteran's right foot disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating of 20 percent is warranted based on moderately severe symptoms. The Veteran's hepatitis C claim was reopened and service connection was granted.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver and his military service. The VA examiners opined that these conditions are more likely related to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which may be associated with hyperlipidemia and obesity.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss, as well as his request for an earlier effective date for service connection for hepatitis C, were denied. The Veteran was also not granted TDIU.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred during an eligible period of service, and the Board finds that hepatitis C and cirrhosis did not have their onset in service. The Board therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

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