Hepatitis C decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's hepatitis C was not incurred in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for liver disease as a residual of Hepatitis C, finding no evidence to support a nexus between his military service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's request for withdrawal of his appeal for entitlement to service connection for syphilis is granted. The claims for service connection for major depressive disorder and hepatitis C are remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the veteran's claim of hepatitis C being related to service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are related to noise exposure during his service. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded due to unclear etiology.

The Board is remanding the case due to inadequate notification of the claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and needs to ensure all necessary evidence has been obtained.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability manifested by hepatitis C that is due to disease or injury incurred in service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for hepatitis C.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence is against the claim for service connection for hepatitis C, and thus the appeal is denied.

The veteran's hepatitis C was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to July 1, 2001. For the period beginning on July 1, 2001, his condition warranted a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis A and hepatitis C, finding that there is no medical evidence of record establishing a nexus between these conditions and any occurrence during his period of active duty.

The Board found no evidence of a blood transfusion during military service and concluded that hepatitis C was not incurred therein. The veteran's post-service risk factors, including tattoos and sexual encounters with drug users, were considered.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to deficiencies in the VCAA notice provided.

The veteran's hepatitis C was not present in service, was first shown many years following service, and is not due to an in-service event, injury or disease. The claim of service connection for cirrhosis of the liver has a status of 'unknown' as it pertains to reopening a previously denied claim.