The Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and bipolar disorder (claimed as depression) were denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current conditions to service, including a lack of in-service diagnosis or exposure.
The deciding factor: Service records did not show any complaints or treatment related to hepatitis C, and the Veteran's condition is more likely due to personal risk factors such as IV drug use and sexual history. The VA examiner concluded that hepatitis C was not incurred during service and attributed it to post-service risk factors. For bipolar disorder, there was no evidence linking it to hepatitis C.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Bipolar Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 6, 2017
- Citation
- 1750164
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1750164.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with bipolar disorder has resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating effective August 8, 2018.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are at least as likely as not attributable to his active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and for a right knee condition are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors. The AOJ must attempt to verify the claimed stressor events and provide a VA examination.
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