Hepatitis C decisions — 2022

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was liver failure due to hepatitis C, is service-connected. The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran acquired hepatitis C from vaccination practices during his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inconsistencies in the previous examination and remand instructions.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's MOS exposure to tank fire likely caused his current condition. Service connection was denied for hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking the disease to in-service blood exposure.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the October 2019 remand directives and thus, the case is being returned to obtain a well-reasoned medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his active duty service, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for left leg varicose veins, right leg varicose veins, chronic hepatitis C, hyperthyroidism, acquired psychiatric disorder (likely PTSD), hypertension (HTN), cellulitis, and colon polyps due to a scheduling error preventing VA examinations.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is not service-connected and is not related to his service-connected pancreatitis.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is not service-connected and is not related to his service-connected pancreatitis.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction and eye condition are not service-connected and are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,There is no evidence of a direct relationship between the Veteran's diabetes mellitus and any other diagnosed conditions.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for Hepatitis C, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's condition was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder and opiate dependence. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's appeal for Hepatitis C was dismissed. The claims for low back, left knee, right knee, and right ankle disorders were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial of these claims.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to higher disability evaluations for hepatitis C and lumbar sprain. The appeal will be remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records from September 9, 2022, and readjudicate the issues based on all relevant evidence.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for hepatitis C as secondary to PTSD with alcohol dependence due to inadequate medical opinion and need for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a groin injury, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder and entitlement to a compensable rating for hepatitis C due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for hepatitis C and left and right knee disorders due to missing records, including personnel records from active duty service and Social Security Administration disability award records.

The Board has determined that the VA opinion is inadequate and remands the case for a new medical nexus opinion to address whether hepatitis C is proximately due to, or the result of, any incident of active duty service.