Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of a spelenectomy was denied as there is no legal entitlement to such due to the lack of correspondence prior to November 23, 2007.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Veteran and the appellant's request for withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling VA examinations to address the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hepatitis C, and a liver condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and need for a new evaluation of hepatitis C. The service connection claim for low back pain remains on appeal, as does the increased rating claim for hepatitis C.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, residuals of a rib injury, and hepatitis C. The decision found that current evidence did not meet the criteria for disability due to hearing loss in the right ear, left ear hearing loss was not chronic in service or within one year post-service separation, and there was no nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current hepatitis C is etiologically related to his receipt of air gun immunization injections during basic training. As a result, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Veteran's initial rating for diabetes mellitus was granted at 20 percent, effective May 11, 2009. Service connection for hepatitis C was also granted.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C. The VA has determined that the current opinion on etiology provided in October 2009 is inadequate and has ordered an additional medical examination to clarify the nature and etiology of his hepatitis C.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD. The claim for hepatitis C remains pending and will be remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of hepatitis C and there is no competent evidence linking his current condition to service. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been service-connected, but he is seeking an initial compensable rating and TDIU. The Board finds that a new examination is necessary to reach a decision on the initial rating claim, and referral for extraschedular consideration of TDIU is warranted.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her husband's service connection for hepatitis C, end-stage liver disease, cirrhosis, and cirrhosis with encephalopathy due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records from the Virginia Department of Corrections regarding hepatitis C. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional development.

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 Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hepatitis C, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and headaches were denied. The preponderance of the competent and credible evidence is against a finding that any of these conditions are related to military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not cause or substantially contribute to his death due to multisystem organ failure, including sepsis/acinobacter pneumonia and ARDS. The primary causes of death were related to complications from endocarditis, cardiomyopathy, and liver failure.

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

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for hypertension and hearing loss, as well as his service connection claim for hepatitis C, are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations and additional medical records.

The Board found that Hepatitis C was not incurred or aggravated by service and denied the Veteran's claim.

The Board has denied service connection for residuals of bladder cancer due to asbestos exposure.,Service connection is pending for prostate cancer and hepatitis C, both potentially related to in-service asbestos exposure.