Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's Hepatitis C disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to June 18, 2008 and as 20 percent thereafter. The Board has determined that a higher rating of 40 percent is warranted for the entire appeal period based on daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia, weight loss, and hepatomegaly.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for Hepatitis C and found that the Veteran's in-service accidental needle sticks likely led to his current diagnosis. Service connection was also granted for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, as it is considered a radiogenic disease related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that his current condition is related to military service, including any possible exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the etiology of his hepatitis A and C, as well as the current severity of his hepatitis B. The issue of entitlement to service connection for retinal occlusion of the left eye will be held in abeyance.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in order to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling appropriate examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C, a psychiatric disorder including bipolar disorder, and ADHD. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylosis and hepatitis C, finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records. The appellant seeks service connection for a liver disorder, which may be related to in-service exposure or other risk factors.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional examinations and development of his claims, including hepatitis C and bilateral foot disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and thyroid cancer, finding that there is no credible evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding no evidence of in-service exposure or risk factors that could link the current condition to his military service. The claim for reopening a previously denied bipolar disorder was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and cervical spine disability, finding no evidence of a nexus between the disabilities and service. The Veteran's current conditions are not considered to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, a bilateral eye disability, and hepatitis C have been reopened due to the submission of new medical evidence. The Board finds that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is currently rated at 20 percent, and he seeks an increased rating. The Board has also remanded the issue of TDIU due to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's death was caused by cirrhosis of the liver resulting from hepatitis C, which developed in the 1990s. The cause is not service-connected.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was found to be asymptomatic prior to March 6, 2010 and manifested by fatigue, low energy level, loss of appetite, and weight loss from March 6, 2010 to October 18, 2011. The disability did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent or 20 percent during these periods.

The Board has determined that the VA examination provided in July 2012 was inadequate for purposes of determining service connection. The Veteran's claim is being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion from a hepatologist to determine if his current hepatitis C is causally related to his military service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The Board finds that his hepatitis C is more likely due to a blood transfusion he received 45 years prior to its diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.