Citation Nr: 18161009
Decision Date: 12/28/18	Archive Date: 12/28/18

DOCKET NO. 17-03 846
DATE:	December 28, 2018

REMANDED

Entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C is remanded.

REASONS FOR REMAND

The Veteran asserts that when receiving his vaccinations, the needles were not properly cleaned and through the inoculation process he developed hepatitis C.  The Veteran has not received a VA examination concerning this issue.  A VA examination is necessary to determine if possible needle contamination caused the Veteran’s hepatitis C.

The matter is REMANDED for the following action:

1. Obtain an opinion from an appropriate clinician for the Veteran’s hepatitis C and schedule an examination only if deemed necessary to render an opinion.  The entire claims file and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner for review, and the examiner must specifically acknowledge receipt and review of these materials in any reports generated.

The examiner must provide an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran’s hepatitic C disability 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 examiner must provide all findings, along with a complete rationale for his or her opinion(s) in the examination report.  If any of the above requested opinions cannot be made without resort to speculation, the examiner must state this and provide a rationale for such conclusion.

2. Readjudicate the claim.  If the decision is unfavorable to the Veteran, issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case and allow the applicable time for response.  Then, return the case to the Board.

 

D. Martz Ames

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans’ Appeals

ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	R. Brunot, Associate Counsel