Hepatitis C Board decisions

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are granted as service connection for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection is granted for COPD to include as secondary to service-connected CAD, but hepatitis C is denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities.,A rating higher than 30 percent for CAD and a rating higher than 70 percent for depression are both denied.,An effective date earlier than March 17, 2011, for the grant of service connection for depression is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding when and how the Veteran contracted hepatitis C, which is necessary for determining service connection. The cause of death claim also remains pending.

The Board has remanded the claims for low back disorder, right-side rib cage injury, Hepatitis C, and periodontal disease due to incomplete service records and need for further examination.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is more likely due to post-service intravenous drug use.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for Hepatitis C service connection was denied as the prior decisions were final and no new evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right knee disorder, hepatitis C, and liver disorder due to incomplete medical opinions and failure to consider the Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is remanded for further examination to determine if it was caused by his in-service drug use, which may be related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service personnel records and outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's cause of death was liver cancer, which may be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his service. A medical opinion is needed to determine if hepatitis C first manifested in service or is otherwise related to any inservice injury or disease.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination and missing VA Fast Letters, which may affect the determination of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between the condition and the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during Vietnam service. The scar of the lumbar spine remains denied, and hypothyroidism and hepatitis C are remanded for further review.,An initial compensable rating for scarring head to toe is denied, and an acquired psychiatric disorder claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, PTSD, and substance abuse due to inextricably intertwined issues with service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The case will be returned to the VA examiner for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) are being remanded due to the need for further development of the medical evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected hepatitis C has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's service-connected back disability and hepatitis C have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, but the Board cannot award TDIU under § 4.16(b) in the first instance due to lack of schedular requirements. The case is REMANDED for an extraschedular determination as to whether he was entitled to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's in-service hospitalization and treatment for hepatitis A likely contributed to his later diagnosis of hepatitis C, which caused his death. Therefore, service connection is granted for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete medical opinion regarding hepatitis C and its relation to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need for a new VA medical opinion regarding liver conditions and the Veteran's symptoms during the period on appeal.

The Board has found that the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for OSA and remanded for additional development. For hepatitis C, the VA examiner was requested to provide an opinion on whether it is at least as likely as not related to service or aggravated by service-connected hepatitis C. The depression issue remains unresolved.