Citation Nr: 20057748 Decision Date: 09/01/20 Archive Date: 09/01/20 DOCKET NO. 11-26 864 DATE: September 1, 2020 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left wrist disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a right hand disorder is remanded. Entitlement to service connection for a left hand disorder is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active military service from December 1978 to October 1990. She testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge during a July 2013 hearing. This matter is on appeal from an October 2010 rating decision and was previously remanded by the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) in October 2014 and February 2018. The Board observes that in February 2018, in addition to remanding service connection for bilateral hand and wrist arthritis, it also denied the claim of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and a bilateral knee disorder. The Veteran appealed only the denial of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court); an Order in September 2018 granted a Joint Motion for Partial Remand (JMPR) by the Veteran and VA Counsel that vacated the Board’s decision as to that issue and remanded for readjudication. In April 2019, the Board again denied service connection for a bilateral knee disorder. Thus, that issue is no longer on appeal. Further, the Board observes that a September 2019 Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) not only addressed the issue of service connection for bilateral hand and wrist arthritis, but also addressed service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome. However, the Board already denied that issue in February 2018; the Veteran specifically did not appeal that issue to the Court as noted in the JMPR. Thus, despite the SSOC including the issue of service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, the Board’s denial is final, and the issue is not on appeal. Entitlement to service connection for bilateral wrist and hand disorders is remanded. The Board remanded these claims in February 2018 to obtain a medical opinion regarding service connection on a direct basis. A VA opinion was obtained in June 2019. The examiner opined that the Veteran's bilateral hand and wrist arthritis is not related to service. The rationale for such opinion included the Veteran being diagnosed with arthritis during service. However, the Veteran was not diagnosed with arthritis during service; and, if she had, such would support a positive opinion. Therefore, remand is necessary to obtain a clarification opinion from the June 2019 examiner. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: Obtain an addendum medical opinion from the June 2019 VA examiner (or, if unavailable, from a medical professional with appropriate expertise) to determine the etiology of the diagnosed bilateral wrist and hand disorders. The examiner is requested to review the record and offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., probability of approximately 50 percent) that any diagnosed bilateral wrist and hand disorders had their onset in service or are related to the Veteran's military service. The examiner should consider the Veteran’s reports of wrist pain during service, and that arthritis was not diagnosed in service. A complete rationale should be given for all opinions and conclusions expressed. A. C. MACKENZIE Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board L. Barstow, 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.