Hepatitis C decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, including its relation to service and known risk factors.

The Veteran's hepatitis C and bilateral hearing loss were evaluated, with the hepatitis C receiving a 20% rating. The initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss prior to October 19, 2019 was denied, while an increased rating of 30% effective October 19, 2019 was granted.

The Board denied service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with emphysema, hepatitis C, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and peripheral vascular diseases of the lower extremities. Service connection was not granted as the preponderance of evidence did not support these conditions being related to service.

The Board denied initial compensable ratings for hepatitis C and service connection for diabetes mellitus and gastrointestinal disability, finding no evidence of symptoms or causation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hepatitis C, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and lichen planus due to incomplete records development. The VA is required to provide additional examinations and opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claim of hepatitis C service connection, specifically concerning the air gun injection theory. The VA must obtain additional medical records and provide an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active duty due to a tattoo received during service in Germany.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and review by the AOJ. The issues of PTSD, hypertension, sleep apnea, and hepatitis C secondary to PTSD are still under consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hepatitis C, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as secondary to hepatitis C, and diabetes mellitus, type II as secondary to hepatitis C due to incomplete compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatitis C was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with prior instructions for obtaining an independent medical expert's opinion regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C infection and its relation to VA treatment. The matter is now being returned to obtain such an opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hepatitis C has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to support a finding that his condition was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's Hepatitis C, specifically his exposure to leeches in service and any connection with his service-connected PTSD. The case will be returned for a new VA opinion on these issues.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion outside of the Houston VAMC regarding the etiology and causation of any disability resulting from the neck port placement during his cancer treatment.