The old interferon treatments were tough to endure for most patients I treated 3 times with interferon based treatment in the 80’s and 90’s.
The new DAA’s came out in 2014.
Someone with cirrhosis absolutely needs to be treated.
I was diagnosed as Hep C in 1990 when I donated blood I got out in 1988
Just better treatments and that treating and curing now is less expensive than the chronic care of liver disease and patients needing transplant is my guess
“ Veterans Health Administration is a national leader in the treatment of the hepatitis C virus. Since all-oral direct-acting antivirals became available in 2014, VA has virtually eliminated hepatitis C among Veterans in their care, treating more than 110,000 Veterans, with cure rates exceeding 90 percent.”
https://www.hepatitis.va.gov/hcv/treatment/index.asp
I would say you would have to ask them. But in 2003 there really weren’t very effective treatments for hep C and they were somewhat difficult to endure. Now with the new DAA meds there are very effective treatments available. If I were to guess I’m thinking they now have a greater ability to successfully treat Hep c so they now have an added emphasis to treat veterans even if not considered a service related illness.
I’m an 8 year Army vet but as I don’t have a service related condition or sirves during armed conflict I don’t qualify for VA medical benefits.
Best of luck