The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C and a respiratory disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support these claims.,For hepatitis C, the Board concluded there was no evidence showing it began during service or was related to an in-service injury. For the respiratory disorder, the Board found insufficient evidence linking it to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of hepatitis C and a respiratory disorder were not shown to have begun during his military service or be related to any in-service events or diseases.,There was no credible evidence showing that the Veteran’s hepatitis C began during service, as it was diagnosed years after separation. The Board also found insufficient medical opinion linking the respiratory disorders to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Respiratory disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2020
- Citation
- 20026744
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 20026744.
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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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