BVA9503878 DOCKET NO. 93-08 701 ) DATE ) ) On appeal from the decision of the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Roanoke, Virginia THE ISSUES 1. Entitlement to service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome. 2. Entitlement to service connection for a right knee disorder. 3. Entitlement to service connection for headaches. 4. Entitlement to service connection for a right shoulder disability . 5. Entitlement to an increased rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease currently rated 20 percent disabling. REPRESENTATION Appellant represented by: Disabled American Veterans WITNESS AT HEARING ON APPEAL Appellant ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD A. D. Jackson, Associate Counsel INTRODUCTION The veteran had active service from October 1968 to October 1988. This matter came before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from rating decisions of the Roanoke, Virginia, Regional Office (RO) beginning in August 1989. That decision in pertinent part denied entitlement to service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome; a right knee disorder; headaches; and a right shoulder disability and granted service connection for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and assigned a 10 percent rating. A rating decision dated in March 1991 granted an increased evaluation to 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease. A personal hearing was held at the RO before a hearing officer in March 1991. A February 1992 rating decision in pertinent part denied an increased the evaluation for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease and continued the prior denials of service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome; a right knee disorder; headaches; and a right shoulder disability. The issue of service connection for a psychiatric disability was raised in July 1991. This matter is referred to the RO for action. REMAND The veteran contends that he should be granted service connection for right carpal tunnel syndrome; a right knee disorder; headaches; and a right shoulder disability and granted an increased disability rating for lumbosacral strain with degenerative joint disease. The veteran's right hand was examined during service in March 1988. On examination a positive Tinel's sign of the right hand was noted and he was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. A VA examiner also diagnosed right carpal tunnel syndrome at a May 1989 post service examination. However, the examiner did not comment as to the basis for his diagnosis and there is no evidence that diagnostic procedures were conducted on the right hand, such as, nerve conduction velocity studies or electromyographic studies . Given the above noted findings, as well as the complaints and findings documented by the service medical records further development is warranted. To ensure that the VA has met its duty to assist the appellant in developing the facts pertinent to the claim, the case is REMANDED to the regional office (RO) for the following development: 1. The veteran should be scheduled for a VA neurological examination to determine whether or not he has carpal tunnel syndrome and migraine or other disability manifested by headaches. The examination should be conducted in accordance with procedures outlined in the Physician's Guide. The examination should include nerve conduction velocity studies and electromyographic studies on the right hand. The claims folder should be made available for review by the examining physician. 2. The veteran should also be afforded an updated orthopedic examination to determine the current severity of his low back disorder. 3. After the development requested above has been completed to the extent possible, the RO should again review the record. If any benefit sought on appeal, for which a notice of disagreement has been filed, remains denied, the appellant and representative should be furnished a supplemental statement of the case and given the opportunity to respond thereto. Thereafter, the case should be returned to the Board, if in order. The Board intimates no opinion as to the ultimate outcome of this case. The appellant need take no action unless otherwise notified. E. W. SEERY Member, Board of Veterans' Appeals The Board of Veterans' Appeals Administrative Procedures Improvement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-271, § 6, 108 Stat. 740, ___ (1994), permits a proceeding instituted before the Board to be assigned to an individual member of the Board for a determination. This proceeding has been assigned to an individual member of the Board. Under 38 U.S.C.A. § 7252 (West 1991), only a decision of the Board of Veterans' Appeals is appealable to the United States Court of Veterans Appeals. This remand is in the nature of a preliminary order and does not constitute a decision of the Board on the merits of your appeal. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1100(b) (1993).