Hepatitis C decisions — 2003

The veteran's claim for hepatitis C as a result of blood transfusions due to his service-connected stomach disorder is being remanded for further development and adjudication.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis B and C, finding no competent medical evidence of a current disability or a nexus between the claimed in-service disease and his current condition.

The veteran died due to liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C. The Board found that the cause of death was not service-connected, thus denying the claim for service connection for the cause of death. For educational benefits, the appellant is not eligible as there was no permanent total disability at the time of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for increased rating and total unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been granted. The left shoulder condition is rated at 40 percent, while the other conditions are also rated appropriately.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for PTSD. The issue of hepatitis C will be addressed in a separate decision.

The VA denied a higher rating for hepatitis C, currently evaluated at 30 percent.

The veteran's service-connected hepatitis C is currently rated at 10 percent, and the claim for a higher evaluation has been denied. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for gastrointestinal bleeding claimed to be due to VA medical treatment was also denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Hepatitis C, concluding that it was not incurred or aggravated during active military service.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his hepatitis C is related to service, and denied the appeal.

The Board found that the veteran's Hepatitis C is related to his military service and granted his claim.