Citation Nr: 19155802 Decision Date: 07/18/19 Archive Date: 07/18/19 DOCKET NO. 13-21 204 DATE: July 18, 2019 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left hand burn is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The appellant is the surviving spouse of a Veteran who served on active duty from May 1981 to March 1982. The Veteran died in April 2019. This matter is before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2012 rating decision. In August 2016, the matter was remanded (by a Veterans Law Judge other than the undersigned) to schedule a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran was scheduled for a video conference hearing in December 2016 and failed to appear for the hearing. A June 2017 Board decision (by a Veterans Law Judge other than the undersigned) denied service connection for residuals of a left hand burn. A January 2019 joint motion for partial remand (JMPR) vacated the Board’s denial of service connection for residuals of a left hand disorder and remanded the matter for further adjudication. The Veteran died in April 2019. In May 2019 the RO approved the appellant’s substitution request on this matter. See May 2019 Notice Acknowledgment and May 2019 Notification Letter. Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a left hand burn is remanded. The Board finds that further development of the record is necessary for proper adjudication of this matter. The current record contains internally inconsistent and conflicting medical opinions regarding the Veteran’s left hand disability. On October 2011 VA peripheral nerves condition examination, the Veteran reported that he had a left hand burn in service and began experiencing numbness in the left hand around 1984 or 1985 (which has progressed over time). Symptoms were noted as moderate left upper extremity neuropathy. On examination left hand grip was slightly decreased with active movement against some resistance. A diagnosis of axonal polyneuropathy secondary to uncontrolled diabetes was noted. On January 2012 VA scars examination, a scar of the left hand was noted (secondary to left hand burn in 1981). In a July 2013 addendum opinion, the examiner opined that the Veteran’s neuropathy was secondary to diabetes. Accordingly, a new medical opinion that reconciles the inconsistencies in the current medical record is necessary. The matter is REMANDED for the following: Forward the Veteran’s record to the appropriate clinician for review and a medical advisory opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of his left hand burn residuals. On review of the record (including reports of all examinations of the Veteran’s left hand and any previous opinions in the matter) the consulting provider should: (a.) Note all scars shown by the record and identify their etiology (i.e. whether they were attributable to the burn injury in-service). (b.) Regarding all scar(s) identified as due to the burn injury in service, indicate whether they had any disabling effects (were tender or painful or limited any function) as shown by the record, describing them in detail. (c.) Specifically indicate whether any left hand numbness/neurological impairment was attributable to a left hand scar from a burn injury in service. All opinions must include rationale. GEORGE R. SENYK Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD N. Staskowski, Associate Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential, and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.