Citation Nr: 21066465
Decision Date: 11/01/21	Archive Date: 11/01/21

DOCKET NO. 16-27 623A
DATE: November 1, 2021

ORDER

Entitlement to service connection for left wrist carpel tunnel syndrome is dismissed.

Entitlement to service connection for right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome is dismissed.

Entitlement to service connection for left hand osteoarthritis is dismissed.

Entitlement to service connection for right hand osteoarthritis is dismissed.

FINDING OF FACT

The Veteran was granted service connection for left and right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome and left and right hand osteoarthritis and compensable ratings assigned for each disability.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

1.  The appeal of the denials of the claim for service connection for left wrist carpel tunnel syndrome no longer identifies a specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

2.  The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome no longer identifies a specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

3.  The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for left hand osteoarthritis no longer identifies a specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

4.  The appeal of the denial of the claim for service connection for right hand osteoarthritis no longer identifies the specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSIONS

The Veteran served on active duty from March 1968 to December 1971.   

This case initially came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) from a January 2015 rating decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO), which denied entitlement to left and right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome and left and right osteoarthritis.  In March 2015 the Veteran filed a notice of disagreement (NOD) and in May 2016 the RO issued a statement of the case (SOC).  In June 2016 the Veteran filed a substantive appeal (via VA Form 9). 

In December 2019, the Board remanded the claims.  An August 2020 rating decision granted service connection for each disability and assigned a 10 percent rating for each disability.  However, a September 2020 supplemental statement of the case was issued, erroneously indicating that the denials were continued and reflecting that the case has been returned to the Board. 

Left and right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome and left and right hand osteoarthritis 

The Board may dismiss any appeal which fails to identify the specific determination with which the claimant disagrees.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

A review of the record shows that an August 2020 rating decision was issued which granted service connection for left and right wrist carpel tunnel syndrome rated 10 percent, effective March 18, 2014.  The RO also granted service connection for and left and right hand osteoarthritis rated 10 percent for limitation of motion of the index finger, long finger, and thumb, effective March 18, 2014.  This decision constitutes a full grant of the benefits sought on appeal as service connection has been granted and compensable ratings have been assigned with regard to each claim the denial of which was appealed.  There is no indication that the Veteran has disagreed with these determinations.  

As the appeals from the denial of these claims no longer identify a specific determination with which the claimant disagrees, dismissal of the claims is warranted.  38 U.S.C. § 7105(d).

 

Jonathan Hager

Veterans Law Judge

Board of Veterans' Appeals

Attorney for the Board	James R. Miller, 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.