What Is Hepatitis C?
Hepatitis C is a viral infection that causes liver inflammation, occasionally leading to serious liver damage. Until recently, treatment for hepatitis C required weekly injections and oral medications that many hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected individuals could not take due to other health problems or problematic side effects. However, recent advances in hepatitis C research have led to the development of oral medications that can treat chronic HCV in just two to six months.
Still, because the symptoms of HCV can take decades to appear, many infected individuals are not aware they have hepatitis C until they are in their 50s or 60s. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all adults aged 18 to 79 get screened for hepatitis C, even those without known symptoms. For those exhibiting the following symptoms, it is recommended that you get tested right away:
- Fatigue
- Poor appetite
- Bleeding easily
- Bruising easily
- Swelling in your legs
- Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
- Dark-colored urine
- Weight loss
- Itchy skin
- Fluid buildup in your abdomen (ascites)
While the cause of hepatitis C is widely known to be due to exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV) through contaminated blood, there are many different situations in which this exposure can occur. Veterans run a higher risk of exposure to HCV-infected blood than the general population due to the dangerous nature of military work, which can result in service members coming into contact with the blood of other people, especially in combat situations.
How The VA Rates Hepatitis C
Under 38 CFR § 4.114, the VA evaluates hepatitis C based on its severity and the effect it has on the veteran’s daily living.
Diagnostic Code 7354: Hepatitis C (or non-A, non-B hepatitis)
With serologic evidence of hepatitis C infection and the following signs and symptoms due to hepatitis C infection:
- 100 – Near-constant debilitating symptoms (such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain)
- 60 – Daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, with substantial weight loss (or other indication of malnutrition), and hepatomegaly, or; incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least six weeks during the past 12-month period, but not occurring constantly
- 40 – Daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, with minor weight loss and hepatomegaly, or; incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least four weeks, but less than six weeks, during the past 12-month period
- 20 – Daily fatigue, malaise, and anorexia (without weight loss or hepatomegaly), requiring dietary restriction or continuous medication, or; incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least two weeks, but less than four weeks, during the past 12-month period
- 10 – Intermittent fatigue, malaise, and anorexia, or; incapacitating episodes (with symptoms such as fatigue, malaise, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, and right upper quadrant pain) having a total duration of at least one week, but less than two weeks, during the past 12-month period
- 0 – Nonsymptomatic
The VA evaluates conditions that result from a veteran’s hepatitis C, such as cirrhosis or malignancy of the liver, under the appropriate diagnostic code for each condition. However, the same signs and symptoms that are used as the basis of evaluation for the veteran’s hepatitis C cannot be used as the basis of evaluation for a secondary condition that is caused by his or her hepatitis C. For example, if a veteran is exhibiting yellowing skin (jaundice) which could be a symptom of both hepatitis C and cirrhosis, he or she will not be able to use that symptom as the basis for evaluation for both the hepatitis C and cirrhosis. The veteran will need to demonstrate distinct symptoms for each condition to necessitate the separate evaluation of each (See § 4.14). Additionally, for the purpose of evaluating conditions under the diagnostic code for hepatitis C (7354) shown above, an “incapacitating episode” means a period of acute signs and symptoms severe enough to necessitate bed rest, as recommended by the veteran’s physician.
Get Help With Your Hepatitis C VA Claim
If you are veteran seeking assistance with your VA claim, please contact our office today for a free claim evaluation. Our experienced veterans disability attorneys are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve.
