Hepatitis C decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is not well grounded.,The veteran's bilateral calluses of the feet with metatarsalgia are currently evaluated at 10% each, but the Board finds that this evaluation does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and porphyria cutanea tarda, finding that his current conditions are not related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection of hepatitis C is not well grounded and denied it.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C, history of pneumonia, hearing loss, and PTSD due to a lack of well-grounded evidence.

The VA has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as it is currently productive of minimal liver damage with associated fatigue and gastrointestinal disturbances.

The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the appellant's currently diagnosed hepatitis C and his periods of active service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death prior to final appellate consideration.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for increased rating for PTSD, compensable rating for residuals of fracture of left third metacarpal, service connection for arthritis of spine and joints due to exposure to Agent Orange, and service connection for hepatitis C. The claim for service connection for arthritis was not well-grounded as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, including hypertensive cardiovascular and coronary artery disease, as well as hepatitis B and C. The denial was based on a lack of competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted a 60% evaluation for the veteran's chronic hepatitis C, effective from February 9, 1995.

The Board denied service connection for Hepatitis C and PTSD, but granted a 30 percent evaluation for PTSD effective September 9, 1998. The veteran's alcohol use is not considered in-service.

The veteran's hepatitis C was not caused by VA treatment, and therefore compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The veteran's widow is denied payment or reimbursement for unauthorized prescriptions purchased from September 1990 through January 1994 due to the claim being untimely filed more than two years after the medications were purchased.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including hypertension, mild pulmonary obstruction, and bilateral pes planus, do not meet the criteria for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes as his combined disability evaluation is only 30 percent.