ptsd Tdiu Claim For Hep C As Secondary To Ptsd

[bradlybone]

Hi All,

I've received a 50% Rating for PTSD this week, and an AO related 20% for DMII, for a total combined rating of 60%. I also receive full SSDI for PTSD related mood disorders.

In addition I have Hepatitis C and stage 3 liver damage with no cure in sight. I've already exhausted all medical options.

My question is, can I find case law or legal precedent for linking the Hep C to the PTSD? I admitted post service drug and alcohol use but I feel it was PTSD related and therefor secondary. They will disallow the Hep C unless I can link it to the presumtion that it was either caused by infection during my service (very hard to do) or if I can get my doc to write a NEXUS letter saying it's more than reasonalble to assume the Hep C was caused either by in service exposure, or to recreational drug use which was secondary to my PTSD.

If I can find the precedent I can take it to my doc who will write the letter.

Any suggestioins?

Thanks,

Bradlybone

[Pete53]

Welcome to Hadit.

You should request TDIU 100% asap. You prolly could link the hep c to service with the info you have. I am sure that you will get a lot of help with that issue. The VA has even accepted the idea that if you got air gun inoculations it could be the cause

[john999]

I think I would try every other cause for your Hep C before I would try and link IV drug abuse as the cause. I would do some research to find other potential causes of Hep C related to your service. IV drug abuse may be the reason, but the VA will say it is due to your own willful misconduct. If you say you used IV drugs back home after Vietnam that will really put a curse on you. This is just my opinion. I used drugs in Vietnam. I have never mentioned it in a claim since that day. If you start talking about IV drug abuse the VA will be seeing you as some sociopath and start to blame all your problems on drug abuse. If you can squeeze something more out of the DMII or PTSD it would be better. IV drug abuse is radioactive and toxic when it comes to the VA. The military does not even want to admit it exists or ever existed in their midst. I can just see the VA's write up on you. "Veteran has long history of IV drug abuse". That in my opinion would be death to a claim. I could be wrong. I hope someone will contradict me and site a claim to the contrary. I am sure not judging you, but trying to see it the way the VA will see it, or try and spin it.

[carlie]

I do not see a claim for hep c secondary to PTSD ever being granted.

jmho

[Pete53]

I do not see a claim for hep c secondary to PTSD ever being granted.

jmho

Very true but his time and being in Nam sets the stage to connect Hep C to the exposure of mass inoculations

[carlie]

Pete,

I agree with the possibility of hep c to air gun inoculations - many cases like that have been granted at the BVA.

It will also be important if he has had any tattoo's on him.

[john999]

If he had a blood transfusion while in service that would be good for hep c. You could get it from getting tatoos in service, but how does the VA look at that?