Hepatitis C decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection of various conditions, including PTSD, anxiety disorder, pelvis cancer, spinal cancer, prostate cancer, hepatitis C, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, ED, and a liver condition are all denied. The Board found no current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his in-service risk factors. The case will be returned for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for hepatitis C is denied because there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, hypertension, lower back disability, skeletal arthritis, skin disability, bilateral eye disability, and bilateral sinus disability have all been denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran did not meet the criteria for chronicity in service, continuity of symptomatology, or direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, fatigue symptoms including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and an acquired psychiatric disability due to inadequate reasoning and lack of clarity in the medical records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 15, 2022 for service connection of hepatitis C was denied as there is no evidence that he filed any other formal or informal claims for this condition before the effective date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development, particularly regarding a possible diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (CAD) from August 2002 records. The VA examiner's opinions need to be revised to consider this evidence.

The Veteran's hepatitis C is rated at 20 percent, and his skin disorder is assigned a noncompensable rating prior to February 20, 2019. The Board denied increased ratings for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected hepatitis C was denied as the condition is currently asymptomatic and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The Veteran's initial claim for hepatitis C with cirrhosis of the liver, steatosis/fatty liver and status post cholecystectomy was granted with a 10% rating effective May 21, 2008. The appeal sought higher ratings for this condition prior to October 1, 2011, from October 1, 2011 to March 31, 2011, and since March 31, 2011. The Board denied these claims as the criteria for a higher rating were not met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to hepatitis C, finding that there is no current diagnosis of cirrhosis and no evidence supporting its existence during the pendency of the claim.

The VA reduced the Veteran's rating for hepatitis C from 60% to 40%, but this decision was improper. The Board has reinstated the 60% rating effective December 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was granted, while claims for high blood pressure, prostate condition, left lower extremity, hepatitis C, right lower extremity, and PTSD were denied.

The appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for post-operative residuals following a liver disease/transplant and aggravation of pre-existing hepatitis C is remanded.

The Veteran's hepatitis C has been granted service connection. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for a liver disorder, other than hepatitis C (including fatty liver disease and liver cysts).