Hepatitis C decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression not otherwise specified was granted. The claims for service connection for congestive heart failure with hypertension and diabetes mellitus were denied, while the liver disability (to include hepatitis C) claim is pending and will be remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for infectious hepatitis and hepatitis C, as well as his claim for a total disability based on individual unemployability prior to July 6, 2017. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, substance abuse, and hepatitis C due to inadequate medical opinions in previous addendum evaluations. The Veteran's conditions are being reviewed again by a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the Veteran's service treatment records regarding upper respiratory infections and venereal disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has remanded them for further development. The case is also remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of current Hepatitis C, liver disease residuals (including liver transplant), and osteoporosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and medical opinions. The issues include psychiatric conditions, gastroenteritis, hepatitis B and C, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, bilateral hearing loss, and a right wrist disability.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and cirrhosis did not manifest signs or symptoms that more nearly approximated a compensable rating prior to January 9, 2014.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hepatitis C, to include as secondary to a service-connected disability. The case must be addressed again with consideration of VA law and policy regarding substance abuse.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, diabetic nephropathy, and coronary artery disease due to insufficient information in the service treatment records regarding these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or contributed to by service, including herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of hepatitis C or cirrhosis as being related to service.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent, and the Board has granted a 40 percent rating. The case is remanded for further development regarding higher ratings and TDIU.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for his hepatitis C disability ratings, but the Board finds that the increase in severity of his condition was not factually ascertainable prior to October 21, 2014. The matter is remanded for further action on the earlier effective date claims.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and ED have all been denied. The Veteran has also been granted a TDIU based on his service-connected major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a liver condition other than Hepatitis C and for Hepatitis C, finding that the preponderance of the evidence is against these claims.

The Veteran's request to reopen the claim for service connection of hepatitis C is granted. The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an opinion on whether his hepatitis C was incurred during military service.