The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection is denied as there was no evidence of a blood transfusion at the VA medical center, and his current condition does not meet the criteria for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,For the left thumb MCP joint issue, the case is remanded to determine if VA properly obtained informed consent prior to the surgeries and whether any additional disability was caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not undergo a blood transfusion at the VA medical center. The Board found that his hepatitis C could not be attributed to VA care, as there is no evidence of a transfusion and he denied having received one.,VA must determine if informed consent was properly obtained for the September 2008 left thumb MCP joint surgery and whether any additional disability resulted from VA's failure to exercise proper care.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Left Thumb Metacarpophalangeal (MCP) Joint
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2018
- Citation
- 18144527
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 18144527.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it related to his active duty service and aggravated by his service-connected tibia fractures. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for depressive disorder is established based on direct evidence of a current disability (depressive disorder) that was incurred during active duty service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected Hepatitis C, lumbar DDD with strain, osteomyelitis, and loss of use of right foot disability rendered him so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance. Effective October 28, 2008, the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC under various provisions.
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