The Veteran's claim for hepatitis C service connection is denied as there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service. The claims for increased ratings for left carpal tunnel syndrome and calcium chip-like deposits in the elbows are also denied, with the latter being rated at 10% due to current symptoms not meeting criteria for higher ratings. The claim for compensable rating for scar of the left cheek is pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have hepatitis C that can be linked to service and there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or after service. For his carpal tunnel syndrome, while he has symptoms consistent with moderate incomplete paralysis, these do not meet criteria for higher ratings as they are not severe enough. The calcium chip-like deposits in the elbows also do not meet criteria for higher ratings due to current symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Hepatitis C, Left carpal tunnel syndrome, Calcium chip-like deposits in the bursa of the elbows, Scar of the left cheek
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 1, 2014
- Citation
- 1434351
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1434351.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's Hepatitis C with cirrhosis is related to service, and therefore grants service connection for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as service-connected, with the Board finding it related to his active duty service and aggravated by his service-connected tibia fractures. The claim for hepatitis C is remanded due to inadequate medical opinions regarding its etiology.,Service connection for depressive disorder is established based on direct evidence of a current disability (depressive disorder) that was incurred during active duty service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis.,The Veteran is also granted an effective date of May 26, 2011 for eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
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