Citation Nr: 18146345 Decision Date: 10/31/18 Archive Date: 10/31/18 DOCKET NO. 07-10 861 DATE: October 31, 2018 REMANDED Service connection for a right arm disorder is remanded. Service connection for a left arm disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from June 1973 to June 1976 and from August 1977 to July 1981. The Board adjudicated this appeal in an April 2013 decision. The Veteran appealed the decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). In a May 2014 Memorandum Decision, the Court vacated the Board’s decision and remanded the matters to the Board. The Board remanded the claims in January 2015. When the case was most recently before the Board in March 2017 it was again remanded for additional development. In a September 2018 written statement, the Veteran argued that the most recent August 2017 VA examination conducted in conjunction with the instant claims, as well as the January and March 2018 addendum opinion reports, are inadequate. It was argued that the examiner failed to provide an adequate rationale for the opinion that the diagnosed right ulnar neuropathy is not caused by the service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease. It was also noted that no opinion was provided regarding whether the right ulnar neuropathy is aggravated by the service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease. Further, it was argued that despite objective findings of moderate constant pain, mild paresthesias and mild numbness of the bilateral upper extremities, the examiner failed to provide any opinion regarding the etiology of such. It was noted that pursuant to Saunders v. Wilkie, 886 F.3d 1356 (Fed. Cir. 2018), the diagnosis of pain, paresthesias and numbness of the upper extremities can be considered a disability for VA purposes, despite a lack of a formal diagnosis. A remand for an adequate examination was sought. Under the circumstances, the Board finds that a remand is required. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Return the claims file, to include a copy of this remand, to the August 2017 VA examiner, if available, in order to obtain an addendum opinion report. The examiner is requested to review the claims file and provide the following opinions: Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the pain, paresthesias and numbness of the bilateral upper extremities (found on August 2017 VA examination) and/or the currently diagnosed right ulnar neuropathy is/are caused by or related to any incident of service (not including vaccines given in service)? Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that the pain, paresthesias and numbness of the bilateral arms (found on August 2017 VA examination), and/or the current right ulnar neuropathy, is/are caused or aggravated by the service-connected right shoulder degenerative joint disease? The examiner should comment on the medical journal article submitted by the Veteran in April 2018 regarding ulnar nerve entrapment, which the Veteran argues supports a connection between his service-connected right shoulder disability and his right ulnar neuropathy. A rationale for all stated opinions must be provided. If the August 2017 VA examiner is unavailable, the above-requested opinions should be provided by another qualified examiner. If the new examiner determines that another VA examination is required in order to provide the requested opinions, one should be scheduled. M. H. HAWLEY Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD E. Redman, Counsel