Citation Nr: 21032605 Decision Date: 05/27/21 Archive Date: 05/27/21 DOCKET NO. 19-28 046 DATE: May 27, 2021 REMANDED Service connection for left carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded. Service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from November 1982 to May 1986. This matter is before the Board of Veterans' Appeals on appeal from a February 2019 rating decision of a Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office. In March 2020, the Board denied the claims for service connection for bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome. The Veteran timely appealed the decision to the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Court). In January 2021, the Court issued an Order pursuant to a Joint Motion for Remand (JMR), which vacated the Board's March 2020 decision and remanded the claims for action consistent with the JMR. In the January 2021 JMR, the parties agreed that remand was necessary to address September 2019 contentions presented by the Appellant regarding the adequacy of a May 2019 VA examination. Further, the parties agreed that remand was necessary to allow the Board to adequately address secondary service connection as it relates to diabetes mellitus. Therefore, remand is necessary to obtain a new VA examination and opinion which addresses all evidence of record and considers all theories of entitlement. The Board notes that the issues of increased rating for a lumbar spine disability and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were previously remanded by the Board in a separate decision. Development of those issues is still ongoing. The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Associate any pertinent VA or private medical records that are not already of record with the claims file. 2. Schedule the Veteran for a VA examination, preferably with a medical doctor that has not previously examined him, to determine the nature and etiology of any carpal tunnel syndrome disability. If possible, schedule the examination with a medical doctor who specializes in neurology or orthopedics. The examiner must review the claims file, including medical literature submitted by the Veteran in September 2019, and should note that review in the report. The rationale for all opinions should be provided. The examiner should explicitly provide the following opinions: (a.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that carpal tunnel syndrome was incurred during service, is due to any event, disease, or injury during service, or manifested within one year after separation from service? (b.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that carpal tunnel syndrome is due to or the result of service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and/or diabetes mellitus? (c.) Is it at least as likely as not (50 percent or greater probability) that carpal tunnel syndrome has been aggravated (permanently increased in severity beyond the natural progression of the disability) by service-connected disabilities, including a lumbar spine disability and/or diabetes mellitus? JOHN Z. JONES Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board H. Ahmad, 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.