Citation Nr: 1304509	
Decision Date: 02/07/13    Archive Date: 02/19/13

DOCKET NO.  07-19 439	)	DATE
	)
	)

On appeal from the
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Los Angeles, California


THE ISSUES

1.  Entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. 

2.  Entitlement to service connection for bilateral bunions and heel spurs. 


REPRESENTATION

Veteran represented by:	Disabled American Veterans


WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL

Veteran


ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD

M. Taylor, Counsel


INTRODUCTION

The Veteran, who is the appellant, served on active duty from September 1968 to September 1972. 

This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal of a March 2005 rating decision of the Department of the Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). 

In July 2011, the claims were remanded for additional development.    

The appeal is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center in Washington, DC.  


REMAND

In the supplemental statement of the case in August 2012, there is reference to a VA examination in August 2011 with medical opinions on bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and bunions and heel spurs.  Although the report of VA examination in August 2011 is in the record, the medical opinions, pertaining to the claims, are not.  

Accordingly, the case is REMANDED for the following action:

1.  Obtain the medical opinions associated with the VA examination in August 2011.  

2.  After the development requested has been completed, adjudicate the claims.  If any benefit sought is denied, then provide the Veteran and his representative a supplemental statement of the case and return the case to the Board.




The Veteran has the right to submit additional evidence and argument on the matters the Board has remanded.  Kutscherousky v. West, 12 Vet. App. 369 (1999).

The claims must be afforded expeditious treatment.  The law requires that all claims that are remanded by the Board of Veterans' Appeals or by the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for additional development or other appropriate action must be handled in an expeditious manner.  See 38 U.S.C.A. §§ 5109B, 7112 (West Supp. 2011).



_________________________________________________
George E. Guido Jr.
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals

Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 2002), only a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.  This remand is in the nature of a preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board on the merits of your appeal.  38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (2012).