Citation Nr: 18157746
Decision Date: 12/14/18	Archive Date: 12/13/18

DOCKET NO. 16-60 526
DATE:	December 14, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from May 1970 to May 1974.
1. Entitlement to service connection for Hepatitis C is remanded.
The Veteran contends that he has hepatitis C related to service.  An October 2014 private medical letter noted that the Veteran reported a history of blood transfusion in 1972, and that he had a remote history of hepatitis C infection.  VA medical records dated in November 2015, February 2016, and January 2017 include the note that the Veteran “was found to have hepatitis C as a result of his time in the Navy and was diagnosed in 2005.”  
The Board finds that a VA examination is needed.  VA’s statutory duty to assist the Veteran includes the duty to conduct a thorough examination so that the evaluation of the claimed disability will be a fully informed one.  Green v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 121 (1991); Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997).  Assistance by VA includes providing a medical examination or obtaining a medical opinion when such an examination or opinion is necessary to make a decision on a claim.  38 U.S.C. § 5103A(d) (2012); 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(4) (2017); McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79 (2006).  When the medical evidence is inadequate, VA must supplement the record by seeking an advisory opinion or ordering another medical examination.  Colvin v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 171 (1991); Hatlestad v. Derwinski, 3 Vet. App. 213 (1992).  Therefore, a remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Identify any VA or private medical records of treatment that are not already of record and associate them with the claims file.
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2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any hepatitis C disability.  The examiner must review the claims file and should note that review in the report.  All tests and studies deemed necessary by the examiner must be performed.  Based on a review of the claims file and the clinical findings of the examination, the examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran has a hepatitis C disability that was caused by or is related to service, including as due to an alleged in-service blood transfusion in 1972.  A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions and conclusions.  The examiner should specifically address VA medical records, such as a VA medical record dated January 26, 2017, stating the Veteran was found to have hepatitis C as a result of his time in the Navy, with a diagnosis in 2005.
 
Harvey P. Roberts
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	H. Ahmad, Associate Counsel