sharing of transmitted through This type of in-service toothbrushes, or direct percutaneous exposure will not shaving razors exposure to blood generally be documented in service records. Consider statements in the context of the entire evidence picture pertaining to risk factors. immunization with a jet documented case A medical report linking one air gun injector of HBV transmission hepatitis to air gun Despite the lack of injectors must include a any scientific full discussion of all evidence to potential modes of document transmission and a transmission of HCV rationale as to why the with air gun examiner believes the air injectors, it is gun injector was the biologically possible. source for the hepatitis infection. f. Development As VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related for Hepatitis does not inform the claimant to submit evidence of Compensation Benefits, Risk Factors hepatitis risk factors, development for risk factors is required in every hepatitis claim, even when hepatitis is diagnosed in service. Development is necessary to determine if pre- and post-service risk factors are present as well as to ensure that the risk factor is not substance abuse either before or during service. Regardless of what claim form the Veteran submits, development for risk factors is required if the complete risk factor history has not already been provided. If risk factor history is not of record, use the table below to develop to the Veteran. If the Veteran is claiming ... Then generate a risk factors development letter in ... hepatitis C the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). hepatitis A or B, or Modern Award Processing-Development a non-specific form of (MAP-D), and hepatitis alter the letter to specify the type of hepatitis claimed by the Veteran (A, B, or none). For more information on References: SC for hepatitis associated with drug use, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.I.2.g, and
sharing of toothbrushes, or shaving razors transmitted through direct percutaneous exposure to blood This type of in-service exposure will not generally be documented in service records. Consider statements in the context of the entire evidence picture pertaining to risk factors. immunization with a jet air gun injector one documented case of HBV transmission Despite the lack of any scientific evidence to document transmission of HCV with air gun injectors, it is biologically possible. A medical report linking hepatitis to air gun injectors must include a full discussion of all potential modes of transmission and a rationale as to why the examiner believes the air gun injector was the source for the hepatitis infection. f. Development for Hepatitis Risk Factors As VA Form 21-526EZ, Application for Disability Compensation and Related Compensation Benefits, does not inform the claimant to submit evidence of hepatitis risk factors, development for risk factors is required in every hepatitis claim, even when hepatitis is diagnosed in service. Development is necessary to determine if pre- and post-service risk factors are present as well as to ensure that the risk factor is not substance abuse either before or during service. Regardless of what claim form the Veteran submits, development for risk factors is required if the complete risk factor history has not already been provided. If risk factor history is not of record, use the table below to develop to the Veteran. If the Veteran is claiming ... Then generate a risk factors development letter in ... hepatitis C the Veterans Benefits Management System (VBMS). hepatitis A or B, or a non-specific form of hepatitis Modern Award Processing-Development (MAP-D), and alter the letter to specify the type of hepatitis claimed by the Veteran (A, B, or none). References: For more information on SC for hepatitis associated with drug use, see M21-1, Part III, Subpart iv, 4.I.2.g, and
1-28-16_Key%20Changes_M21-1III_iv_4_SecI.docx