Hepatitis C decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C as the Veteran's intravenous drug use, which led to his diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C, constituted willful misconduct.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hepatitis C was denied as there were no current signs or symptoms attributable to the condition, and no incapacitating episodes due to his liver condition.

The Board has remanded both the claims for service connection for hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver (claimed as secondary to hepatitis C) due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his in-service hospitalization, but a medical opinion is needed to determine its etiology. The cirrhosis claim will also be remanded as it will significantly impact the pending hepatitis C claim.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, concluding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service conditions and his later-developed liver disease.

The Veteran's claim for a low back condition was denied due to lack of evidence of chronic disability.,Service connection for left knee disability is not granted as there is no current diagnosis.,Hypertension is not service connected as it did not begin during service and has no link to in-service events or diseases.,The Veteran's hepatitis C is found to be service-connected, likely due to high-risk sexual activity while in service.,An earlier effective date of July 9, 2012, for the award of service connection for left eye conjunctivitis/ptosis is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims of service connection for left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee condition (also claimed as bilateral knee condition and right leg condition), hypertension, and hepatitis C due to inadequate examination opinions and outstanding service treatment records.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, hypertension, hepatitis C, and a residual kidney disability as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions in the record.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents and insufficient medical opinion supporting a link between hepatitis C and service. The Veteran's current diagnosis is attributed to his risk factors rather than service.

The Board has remanded the cases of hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, and hemorrhoids for further development. The claims are not currently decided on service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis and diabetes mellitus, type I. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C because the Veteran's claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence, and his contentions were not supported by the record.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and whether there is a qualifying marriage for death pension benefits as they are intertwined with the issue of substitution. The Appellant must be given an opportunity to pursue either accrued benefits or substitution.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for hepatitis C was denied due to lack of evidence showing in-service incurrence or causation.,Service connection for a skin disorder (pruritus and lichen planus) has been granted based on new evidence showing current disability related to service.,Secondary service connection for depression resulting from PTSD has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection in multiple areas, including heart disability as secondary to pre-pyloric ulcer with antrum scarring and hiatal hernia, liver disability with hepatitis C, acquired psychiatric disorder (depression), sleep apnea, skin disability (Stevens Johnson syndrome), and right leg disability. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening these claims or establishing service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim. The Veteran submitted additional evidence in support of his claim but it was deemed redundant or insufficient to raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.