Hepatitis C Board decisions

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a new hearing. The specific conditions at issue include hepatitis C, cirrhosis of the liver, and a low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C, which was linked to his tattoos during service, was a principal cause of his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 as secondary to the veteran's service-connected lower extremity disabilities and denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151 for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have a diagnosis of PTSD, malaria, or hepatitis C. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran withdrew his appeal for sleep apnea, a blood disease due to Agent Orange exposure, pneumonia including due to Agent Orange exposure, lupus and positive lupus anticoagulant including due to Agent Orange exposure, and peripheral neuropathy including due to Agent Orange exposure. The skin disorder characterized as basal cell carcinomas of the face and actinic keratoses of the hands and face was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current hepatitis C had its origin in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of service connection for depression as secondary to hepatitis C is remanded for further action.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, COPD and bronchitis with upper respiratory infection, and recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, and gallstones due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastritis, hepatitis C, and an anxiety disorder to include PTSD. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The veteran's claim for Hepatitis C was denied as he does not have a current diagnosis of the condition. The VA found that his PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, but granted a 10% disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and a psychiatric disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was increased to a 40 percent rating effective May 21, 2007. The condition is currently manifested by daily fatigue, malaise, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, and right upper quadrant pain with minor weight loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a qualifying chronic disability under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317 and concluding that the veteran's symptoms were not related to her military service.

The Board finds in favor of the veteran for service connection regarding his current hypopigmented skin patches and associated scars. The Board also acknowledges that hepatitis C is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to active service. Service connection for hepatitis B is granted based on new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Hepatitis C is as likely as not related to military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for Hepatitis C is denied as there was no communication from her prior to March 28, 2003 that constituted a formal or informal claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if hepatitis C exists and its relationship to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis, including whether these conditions had their onset in service or are related to his service-connected disability.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not have a total and permanent service-connected disability at the time of his death. Therefore, DIC benefits are denied, as is eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.