Hepatitis C decisions — 2009

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to uncertainty regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C and post-service risk factors.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and Barnes-Jewish Hospital treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hand condition, to include Raynaud's phenomenon and hepatitis C. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is not service-connected due to lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors. The claim for hepatitis C compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 remains pending and will be remanded for further investigation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was due to his service-connected hepatitis C, which contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death due to Hepatitis C and Major Depression, finding that new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the underlying claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and hepatitis C is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including clarification of representation and potential rescheduling of a hearing.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hepatitis C is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board is remanding the case to allow the Veteran to submit new and material evidence for his claims of service connection for hepatitis C, PTSD, and a blood disease. The RO/AMC will also provide the Veteran with VCAA notice as required by Kent v. Nicholson.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for hepatitis C, which he attributes to his inservice exposure to blood. The case has been remanded due to the need for a new medical examination considering the Veteran's reported history of inservice exposure.

The Veteran's claim for disability compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a liver biopsy performed in July 2003 was denied as there is no additional disability resulting from the procedure.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied both the claim for cause of death and DIC benefits.

The Board found no evidence of right brachial plexopathy or right carpal tunnel syndrome during service and denied the claims for these conditions.,For hepatitis C, the Board noted that it was first diagnosed in 2004, 33 years after service. The Veteran claimed exposure to shots by airgun during basic training as a cause of his condition. However, the VA examiner could not pinpoint when the Veteran contracted hepatitis C and denied the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current diagnosis to his active service.