Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and migraine headache disorder are granted service connection. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, other than dementia is denied. The effective date of service connection for hypertension associated with herbicide exposure is set at August 10, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis, Hepatitis C and fatty liver, tinea versicolor with eczema, radiculopathy of the left and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since December 3, 2020. The Board granted an earlier effective date for TDIU based on this evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable evaluation for hemorrhoids and service connection for an injury to the eyes (chemical, ink) was withdrawn. The Veteran's PTSD with MDD is granted at 70 percent disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and hepatocellular carcinoma due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to service, but VA needs a more comprehensive opinion considering all reported risk factors. For hepatocellular carcinoma, VA needs an opinion on whether it is secondary to service-connected porphyria cutanea tarda.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis of the liver were dismissed due to procedural deficiencies. The claims of entitlement to service connection for arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease, and bilateral lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's liver disease, including hepatitis B and/or C.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the other service connection claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The VA has not assigned a rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for hepatitis C is remanded due to the need for clarification of his liver disability levels, specifically addressing MELD scores.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder, and also awarded service connection for cirrhosis of the liver on an aggravation basis due to the Veteran's bipolar disorder.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis is presumed to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis, thoracic anterior wedge compression fracture, lumbar spine disability, right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, kidney stones, endocarditis, and Parkinson's disease are not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, as secondary to her service-connected Hepatitis C or cirrhosis of the liver, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board finds that there may be a link between the Veteran's diabetes and her service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 40 percent for Hepatitis C is denied as the evidence does not show daily fatigue, malaise, and substantial weight loss with hepatomegaly or incapacitating episodes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular cancer is service-connected, as there is at least a reasonable doubt in favor of this determination.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors, and will consider new evidence in determining if there is a current diagnosis of PTSD or if hepatitis C was incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability evaluation for bilateral hearing loss (BHL) is denied.,The Veteran's appeal for a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied.,The Veteran's appeals for effective dates prior to October 28, 2015 for the grants of service connection for BHL and tinnitus are denied.,The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to October 28, 2015 for the grant of service connection for hepatitis C is denied.,The Veteran's appeals for a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for hepatitis C prior to May 3, 2024 and for SMC and DEA are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding no evidence to support a relationship between his active duty service and his condition.

The Veteran's cholecystectomy residuals and hepatitis C are granted service connection. The right elbow disability and skin disorder are denied, as is the initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that her active duty service is at least as likely as not the cause of her current condition.

The Board has found that the Veteran's iron deficiency anemia is not compensable, and has remanded the issues of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C due to duty-to-assist errors.