Hepatitis C decisions — 2003

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for a VA medical examination to determine if the veteran suffers from Hepatitis C and, if so, when it was first manifested. The case will be returned to the RO for this purpose.

The veteran seeks service connection for hepatitis C with associated liver cirrhosis. The case is being remanded due to the veteran's failure to report for scheduled VA medical examinations and his ongoing treatment at a VA Medical Center.

The veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C, which he contends was incurred due to exposure to open wounds of other soldiers in Vietnam. The Board has decided that additional development is necessary before the claim can be properly adjudicated.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT).

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether VA's prescription of valproic acid caused or aggravated the veteran's hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was incurred in service, and thus granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for hepatitis C should be remanded due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's sinusitis, otitis of the right ear, and hepatitis C were not incurred or aggravated by her active military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development of evidence, including obtaining records from National Personnel Records Center and VA hospitals regarding blood transfusions and liver function tests during service. The veteran's hepatitis C may be related to his service due to potential exposure through blood transfusions or biopsy samples.

The veteran's claims for hepatitis C, pancreatitis, and PTSD are being remanded due to incomplete development.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a video conference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The RO must schedule this hearing and ensure that notice of it is sent to the correct address.

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

The veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C is being remanded to the RO for further development and consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that it is proximately due to the veteran's service-connected atypical erythema multiforme. Service connection for Hepatitis C was not addressed as it does not fall under the scope of this decision.