{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/hepatitis-c","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:29:39.008Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Hepatitis c","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":1213,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":11.6,"denied_pct":28.9,"remanded_pct":55.5,"granted_on_merits_pct":28.7,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":194,"granted_pct":10.3,"denied_pct":33,"remanded_pct":45.9},{"year":2018,"issues":287,"granted_pct":11.5,"denied_pct":23,"remanded_pct":60.6},{"year":2019,"issues":183,"granted_pct":13.7,"denied_pct":29,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2020,"issues":118,"granted_pct":8.5,"denied_pct":30.5,"remanded_pct":57.6},{"year":2021,"issues":122,"granted_pct":9.8,"denied_pct":34.4,"remanded_pct":52.5},{"year":2022,"issues":96,"granted_pct":8.3,"denied_pct":25,"remanded_pct":64.6},{"year":2023,"issues":86,"granted_pct":8.1,"denied_pct":23.3,"remanded_pct":62.8},{"year":2024,"issues":68,"granted_pct":14.7,"denied_pct":35.3,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2025,"issues":41,"granted_pct":19.5,"denied_pct":34.1,"remanded_pct":41.5},{"year":2026,"issues":29,"granted_pct":27.6,"denied_pct":31,"remanded_pct":41.4}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":82.3,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":166,"granted_pct_with":52.9,"granted_pct_without":23.6},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":871,"granted_pct_with":26.8,"granted_pct_without":38.3},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":232,"granted_pct_with":61.4,"granted_pct_without":17.3},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":678,"granted_pct_with":25.6,"granted_pct_without":35.5},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":380,"granted_pct_with":45.4,"granted_pct_without":18.6},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":71,"granted_pct_with":39.4,"granted_pct_without":27.9},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":1045,"granted_pct_with":27.3,"granted_pct_without":39.7},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":99,"granted_pct_with":42.1,"granted_pct_without":27.6}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":13},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":4},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":3},{"reason":"conflicting medical opinions regarding service connection","decisions":3},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":2},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":48},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":44},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":41},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":24},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":16},{"reason":"criteria for service connection not met","decisions":7}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26033594","year":2026,"judge":"CYNTHIA M. BRUCE","rationale":"Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran; Criteria for service connection met; Evidence in approximate balance"},{"case_id":"A26033070","year":2026,"judge":"MARCUS N. FULTON","rationale":"Benefit of the doubt afforded; Symptoms indicative of 40% rating; Sustained weight loss noted"},{"case_id":"A26027639","year":2026,"judge":"JONATHAN HAGER","rationale":"In-service diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis; Veteran's consistent lay statements of exposure and symptoms; Private medical opinions linking hepatitis C to in-service hepatitis; Equipoise in evidence resolved in veteran's favor"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26004513","year":2026,"judge":"PAULETTE VANCE BURTON","rationale":"No evidence of onset during service; No adequate medical opinion linking to service; Chiropractor opinion found inadequate due to factual inaccuracies"},{"case_id":"26003137","year":2026,"judge":"MARTIN B. PETERS","rationale":"In-service sexually transmitted infection documented.; Found to be sufficient to document in-service exposure to Hepatitis C.; Reasonable doubt resolved in veteran's favor regarding etiology."},{"case_id":"A26020856","year":2026,"judge":"M. HYLAND","rationale":"Symptoms duplicative of cirrhosis of the liver; Overlapping symptoms with 100% rated cirrhosis; Benefit of the doubt not applicable"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}