The Veteran's hepatitis C was caused by an in-service blood transfusion performed prior to 1992 after the left thigh puncture wound.,The Veteran's back and hip disorders are not service-connected as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking them to a service-connected condition.
The deciding factor: Service connection for hepatitis C was granted because the Veteran received an in-service blood transfusion that likely caused their current diagnosis.,The back and hip disorders are not considered service-connected as they did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence linking them to a service-connected condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, Internal derangement of both hips, Labral tear of the left hip, Arthritis of the spine, Arthritis in the hips
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 31, 2018
- Citation
- 18106421
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 18106421.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for his lumbar spine and right hip disabilities due to a duty to assist error. The effective date for DEA benefits is granted as May 1, 2014.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for his back disability is denied. The effective date remains March 29, 2021, as the earliest date of claim. An initial rating in excess of 20 percent for the back disability from March 29, 2021, is also denied.
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