Hepatitis C decisions — 2001

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for hepatitis B and C, including depression, was granted. However, the secondary service connection application for a psychiatric disability (depression) is still pending.

The veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C and residuals of injury to the right ribs is granted. The VA examiner found that any existing Hepatitis C is not related to in-service liver abnormalities or injuries, but rather to a post-service work-related incident.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a link between the veteran's current condition and his period of active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for hepatitis C and is now considering whether new evidence supports a finding of in-service exposure to hepatitis C. The issue regarding cirrhosis of the liver remains unresolved as it was not appealed.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals found that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The appellant's disabilities, including bilateral hearing loss and hypertension, are sufficient to warrant a permanent and total disability rating for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD symptoms prior to February 25, 1998 more closely approximated a 100 percent schedular rating.

The Board found no evidence of a blood transfusion or cuts from contaminated medical instruments during service, and thus denied the veteran's claims for hepatitis C and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) secondary to hepatitis C.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his nonservice-connected disability pension, finding that the earliest date of receipt of a claim was February 2, 1998.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that there is a nexus between the veteran's hepatitis C and his service. The claim for PTSD was remanded due to insufficient details provided by the veteran regarding the claimed stressors.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran's hepatitis C with portal fibrosis and cirrhosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis with dry eyes, and other service-connected conditions are all rated at the maximum available disability rating. The effective date for the grant of service connection is May 7, 1992.

The veteran's application for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or adaptive equipment was denied due to lack of loss of use of one or both feet, but he is eligible for adaptive equipment.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000.

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for further clarification of his military history and subsequent medical records, including a VA examination.