File this one in the Idiot’s Delight box. If you are going to claim an injury in service, you must still have the injury when you file. It helps if you bring a nexus to the VSO to include with the injury. These three items are often referred to as the Caluza Triangle, or the Golden Triangle, or the Hickson elements. However you wish to refer to them, the principle is that you have suffered harm while in the employ of Uncle Sugar. How this ever got to the BVA with no Dx of Hep. is way beyond me and probably VLJ George E. Guido, Jr. as well. It must have taken him about 5 minutes to figure this one out. It set back at least one VET’s legitimate claim a few weeks and probably numerous Vet’s adjudications were interminably delayed so that justice would be afforded this idiot. Please,Veterans, in the interests of time management, when filing a claim make sure you have a Dx’d injury before self-diagnosing and rushing to file for benefits. The Veterans in line behind you would be greatly appreciative of your consideration in this matter.

http://www.va.gov/vetapp08/Files1/0806500.txt