Hepatitis C decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for left eye disorder, tinnitus, hepatitis C, hypertension, and bilateral hearing loss as there was no competent medical evidence to support the Veteran's claims.,Service connection could not be established because there were no in-service incurrences or manifestations of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient information on whether the Veteran's hepatitis C and acquired psychiatric disability are related to service. The issues of service connection for hepatitis C and an acquired psychiatric disability, including major depressive disorder, secondary to hepatitis C, are intertwined.

The Veteran's hepatitis C disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it began during active service or is related to an incident of service, including the vaccination process where needles may not have been cleaned properly.

The claims for service connection for a right knee condition, an ankle condition, and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The claim for a left knee condition is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial evaluation for service-connected bilateral tinnitus is denied.,All other issues are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for Hepatitis C, ED as secondary to PTSD, and an increased rating for PTSD due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The claims are also remanded for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete development and requests for an addendum opinion from a different examiner regarding the Veteran's hepatitis C diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C, vasculitis secondary to hepatitis C, chronic renal insufficiency secondary to hepatitis C, and hypertension secondary to chronic renal insufficiency. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's polyarthritis associated with chronic Hepatitis C is rated at a 20 percent disability level, effective from the date of her claim in April 23, 2008. An earlier effective date prior to this date is denied.

The Veteran's hepatitis C did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating during the period on appeal, and therefore his claim for accrued benefits purposes is denied.

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for amphetamine-induced anxiety disorder, left hip degenerative joint disease, and hepatitis C were granted. The new evidence submitted related to these conditions was sufficient to meet the criteria for reopening the claims.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C, a seizure disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD), and right ear hearing loss. However, the evidence does not establish that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's military service. The case was remanded due to additional development needed.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for food poisoning has been dismissed. The Board also remanded several issues including the rating of lumbar spine disability, secondary service connection for bladder condition and BUE conditions, secondary service connection for BLE conditions, secondary service connection for gunshot wound to the left leg, service connection for respiratory condition (asthma), service connection for hepatitis C, and secondary service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder.

The claim for service connection for hepatitis C was reopened due to new evidence, but the Veteran's history of intravenous drug use is considered willful misconduct and does not support a finding that his current condition is related to active military service.