Citation Nr: 18146349
Decision Date: 10/31/18	Archive Date: 10/31/18

DOCKET NO. 13-30 895
DATE:	October 31, 2018
REMANDED
Entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left wrist is remanded.
Entitlement to service connection for carpal tunnel syndrome of the right wrist is remanded.
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from November 1984 to April 1988. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a May 2011 rating decision.
The Veteran testified at a June 2015 videoconference hearing before the Board; a transcript of the hearing is associated with the record.
These matters were previously before the Board in August 2015 and September 2017.
1. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded.
Remand is necessary to address the Veteran’s statements in Social Security Administration (SSA) documents associated with the record.  In an August 1997 SSA Disability Report, the Veteran reported “loss of feeling” in his arms; similarly, in a December 1998 SSA Reconsideration Disability Report the Veteran noted “severe pain” and “numbness” in his shoulders and arms.  The VA examination and opinions reference the lack of medical records documenting carpal tunnel syndrome in the period between separation from service and 2005, but no opinion has addressed the Veteran’s 1997 and 1998 lay statements of potential carpal tunnel symptoms.  
The matters are REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician regarding whether the Veteran’s bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome is at least as likely as not related to service, to include his duties in his MOS of a tactical aircraft maintenance specialist.
The clinician should address whether the symptoms reported in the 1997 and 1998 SSA statements were related to the Veteran’s later-diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome and, if so, whether the Veteran experiencing symptoms in 1997 and 1998 changes the clinician’s 
 
opinion regarding the relationship between carpal tunnel syndrome and service.
 
M. H. HAWLEY
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	W. Ripplinger, Associate Counsel