Hepatitis C — all decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in not considering his assertion of exposure through air gun inoculations.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to the Veteran's service-connected mood disorder substantially contributing to his death. The Veteran died from an accidental drug overdose, with a combined disability rating of 60 percent at the time of his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus secondary to hepatitis C. The case is remanded for further development regarding the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anemia, BPH, bronchitis, chronic bone disease, and liver diseases (cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C) due to exposure at Camp Lejeune is denied as no new relevant evidence was received.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for BPH due to exposure at Camp Lejeune has been readjudicated as new relevant evidence was submitted.

The Board has granted service connection for axonal polyneuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, as well as bilateral hand arthritis. Service connection was denied for basal cell carcinoma and hepatitis C.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including persistent depressive disorder and multiple musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 30, 2020. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for shoulder and hip arthritis due to unresolved medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases in the medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence aggravated his hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and relevant to the claims of service connection for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and left ear hearing loss. As such, the claims are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his vision impairment and physical conditions such as neuropathy and back pain, necessitate regular aid and attendance. The Board granted SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were found to be most closely approximating occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to March 27, 2021. The claim for hepatitis C was remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hepatitis C (claimed as chronic chemical hepatitis) due to a lack of evidence showing an in-service event or exposure related to these conditions.

The Board has identified errors in the initial decision and requires a new VA examination to determine the nature and cause of the Veteran's hepatitis C infection, including its onset during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining military personnel records and medical records from his Air Force Reserve service, as well as a TERA examination for chronic bronchitis and asthma.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's hepatitis C, which was a causal factor in his liver cancer death, was incurred during service. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.