The VA Testimony before the Subcommittee on Benefits Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives, April 13, 2000, Gary A. Roselle, M. D., Program Director for Infectious Diseases, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, state, "One in 10 US Veterans are infected with HCV", a rate 5 times greater than the 1.8% infection rate of the general population."

One in 5 of these Veterans are from the Vietnam era.

Of the total number of persons who were hepatitis C antibody positive, and reported an era of service, 62.7% were noted to be from the Vietnam. The second most frequent group is listed as post-Vietnam at 18.2%, followed by 4.8% Korean conflict, 4.3% post-Korean conflict, 4.2% from WWII, and 2.7% Persian Gulf era veterans.

Why Active/Retired Military & Veterans Are
High Risk for Hepatitis C (HCV)

Pandora's Box
The Hepatitis C epidemic is discovering what was... In 1988, 242,000 Hepatitis C infections were reported annually. These high figures were reported from the 1960s and throughout 1980s, and declining after 1992

The following list are recognized service connected transmission methods for the Hepatitis C virus and other bloodborne pathogens. If a veteran applies for benefits and does not have "other" risk factors, or can prove service was a "greater risk" for infection with Hepatitis C, qualify for service connection.

Mar 26, 2009 VA mum extent of equipment contamination By Bill Poovey - The Associated Press CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Thousands of military veterans across the South are waiting to find out if they were exposed to infectious diseases by government clinics that performed colonoscopies and other procedures with equipment that wasn’t properly sterilized. Veterans Affairs officials won’t say if mistakes that may have exposed patients to infections at medical centers in Tennessee and Florida and a clinic in Georgia have been discovered elsewhere.
 

6 January 2009 CDC REVIEW
Nonhospital Health are–Associated Hepatitis B and C Virus Transmission: United States, 1998–2008 ...hepatitis C virus (HCV) from health care exposures... review of outbreak information revealed 33 outbreaks ...the putative mechanism of infection was patient-to-patient transmission through failure of health care personnel to adhere to fundamental principles of infection control and aseptic technique (for example, reuse of syringes or lancing devices)...recognized outbreaks indicate a wider and growing problem as health care is increasingly provided in outpatient settings in which infection control training and oversight may be inadequate.
 

November 2006 Journal of Viral Hepatitis 13(11): 775-782. 15 independent risk factors for HCV By Liz Highleyman ... our data incriminate previously unidentified risk factors (abortions, some dermatological procedures, outpatient injections, contact sports, beauty treatments, professional pedicure/manicure) and confirm those already recognized hospitalization, digestive endoscopy, acupuncture...

Each Hour Of Every Day, Three People Die From Hepatitis C   (HCV Disease)   Two Of These People Have Military Backgrounds Military Marine Corps Veteran, Corporal Gary Lupole, 61, of Staunton, passed away suddenly on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at Augusta Health, Fishersville. He was born January 14, 1951 in Williamsport, PA. He was co-founder of HCVets.com, Educational Website . Gary died from a heart attack caused by terminal liver cancer due to the hepatitis C virus he contracted during his military service. Gary volunteered for the Marine Corps in 1968. He quit school to sign on the buddy plan with his brother Jack. Both graduated boot camp from Parris Island, South Carolina, Platoon 3005 in 1968.  After service, Gary completed 2 years of collage at Old Dominion University to become certified as a Master Electrician and Electrical Contractor until disabled in 1996. The Vietnam war has never ended for Gary, or for many Veterans and Retired Military members with service incurred disabilities like HCV disease. Please tell a friend that 1 in 5 Vietnam Vets have HCV disease. Join HCVets' "Test the Rest Campaign." for a free Hep C "in home" test kit voucher. Honor Gary's Memory... Tell a Friend!! http://hcvets.com/HCVets.com/TestTheRest/FreeVoucher.htm  The Funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9, 1:00 PM ET   . Arlington National Cemetery Arrangements by Charlton and Groome Funeral Home of Fishersville.