Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities have been rated at 30 percent since April 18, 2013. The claims for service connection for HCV and the clothing allowance or fee dispute are not addressed in this decision.

The Board found no evidence of hepatitis C during service and did not find continuous symptoms after service. The Veteran's liver conditions are considered to be unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is service-connected, and it was the primary cause of his death from sepsis.,Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death has been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C with associated liver cirrhosis is at least as likely as not incurred during his active service, including exposure to air gun inoculations and getting a tattoo.

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

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his claim but that the evidence did not establish a link between his current condition and military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left hand arthritis, right hip arthritis, left hip arthritis, and left foot arthritis. The claim for Hepatitis C was also denied as it is not considered to be related to military service.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, drug dependency, gastrointestinal disability, hypertension, and an acquired psychiatric disability (excluding PTSD) have been denied. The Veteran's drug dependency is not service-connected as it was the result of willful misconduct.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Hepatitis C had its onset in service and grants the claim of service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and finds that his symptoms are more likely related to his service-connected insomnia and nonservice-connected Hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of record showing a direct relationship between the Veteran's hepatitis C and his active duty service, or that it was proximately caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome, a pinched nerve in his leg, polysubstance abuse/addiction, and hepatitis C. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for Hepatitis C was granted, and he is now receiving a 10 percent rating retroactively effective from August 31, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and medical records from Heidelberg hospital and Landstuhl U.S. Army Medical Center.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Hepatitis C were denied, while his claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating or an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, erectile dysfunction secondary to laryngeal cancer, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and consideration of recent medical records.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, as well as to ensure all relevant evidence has been considered in adjudicating the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C virus is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient treatment records and a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claim due to further development being required before it can be decided on appeal. The Veteran's Hepatitis C is presumed to have been incurred during service, but a medical opinion is needed to determine its exact cause.