Service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. The Veteran's application to reopen this claim was also denied as new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted after reopening the claim, with a May 2019 private medical opinion indicating that the condition began in service. The Veteran's application to reopen this claim was also denied as new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for skin disability and OSA were both denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding a link between hepatitis C and service, as there was no evidence of treatment or diagnosis during service. The new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.,The May 2019 private medical opinion indicated that schizoaffective disorder began in service, but the preponderance of the evidence is against finding a link between the condition and service as there was no evidence linking it to service. The new evidence did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claim.,There was no evidence linking skin disability or OSA to service.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Hepatitis C","status":"Denied"}, {"condition_name":"Schizoaffective Disorder","status":"Granted"}, {"condition_name":"Skin Disability","status":"Denied"}, {"condition_name":"Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)","status":"Denied"}

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 21, 2020

Citation

20004492