Hepatitis C decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, cervical spine disability, lower back disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to a lack of VA examinations addressing these conditions. The case is returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Veteran's stage II-IV cirrhosis with hepatitis C is granted as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to support her claims of herbicide exposure or drug and alcohol abuse.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeal for hepatitis C service connection. Tinnitus was granted, but the hearing loss claim is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, right hip and knee conditions, and right ankle condition due to new evidence received since the last final rating decisions. The Veteran's service connection claims are reopened.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disability was incurred during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C with fibrosis of the liver and COPD and asthma, to include as secondary to hepatitis C due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The Veteran's current hepatitis C is believed to be related to his pre-service drug use and post-service incarceration.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, liver disease, gallbladder condition, and stomach disorder. The VA examinations conducted in August 2020 were not sufficient as they did not consider the Veteran’s reported in-service risk factors.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, hepatitis C, and headaches due to incomplete records. The Veteran's service connection claims are not granted as he did not serve during a period of war.

The Board denied compensation benefits for hepatitis C due to a blood transfusion at a VA medical facility in 1979 or 1980, finding that the Veteran's hepatitis C was not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on part of VA physicians.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to initial, increased, and TDIU ratings for Hepatitis C due to the Veteran's timely opt-in into the Appeals Modernization Act review system.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C disorder was not diagnosed until after service and is more likely due to post-service drug use, thus denying service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that it is not related to his in-service duties or any other risk factors. The decision also noted that the Veteran's substance abuse disorder, which he claimed was due to PTSD, did not cause or aggravate his Hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is related to his military service, including in-service immunizations from jet injectors and shared razors. The decision grants service connection for this condition.