Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically related to his in-service risk factors, including exposure to air guns and sharing razors. As a result, service connection for hepatitis C is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his active duty service, particularly air jet injector inoculations. The claim for a psychiatric disorder was denied as there is no evidence showing it was incurred coincident with or related to his active duty service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the issues of hepatitis C, residuals of a stroke, cervical spine disability, and psychiatric disability. The Board does not have jurisdiction to decide these matters.

The Board finds that the Veteran's hepatitis C and resulting cirrhosis do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there were no incapacitating episodes or objective findings of malaise, anorexia, hepatomegaly, or minor weight loss attributable to the conditions. The effective date for the award of a 20 percent disability evaluation is granted as December 16, 2008.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disorder are related to service. Service connection for both conditions is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for herpes simplex labialis (HCV1) but denied service connection for herpes simplex genitalis (HCV2). The Veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for her post-cystectomy ovarian cyst residuals is pending and remanded.

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

The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C was received on July 16, 1999. The effective date of service connection is set at that time.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to clarify the etiology of the Veteran's claimed hepatitis C, and to determine if it was incurred in service. The appeal will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is etiologically linked to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his active service.

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

The Board found that hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred or aggravated during service, as there is no evidence of such in the service records. The VHA expert concluded that it was less likely than not that these conditions were related to any event or disease in service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been manifested by fatigue, malaise, and some hepatomegaly but not to the extent that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred during service and is not otherwise related to his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, but further development is needed to determine if there is a link between his current condition and military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, carpal tunnel syndrome, and numbness of the left leg due to inadequate examinations and incomplete evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver were not incurred during service, and therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is more likely a result of his long history of drug use than any other identified risk factors and possible causes, including air gun inoculations. Therefore, service connection for hepatitis C is denied.