Opinion ID: 4557214
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Board Decision and Veterans Court Decision

Text: On September 26, 2017, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (“Board”) denied a higher rating for Mr. Payne’s right and left hand HAVS and CTS on both schedular and extra- schedular bases. J.A. 165–203. Mr. Payne’s disabilities were rated as a unit under diagnostic code 8515, based on the Board’s factual finding that the symptoms of the two conditions overlapped. The Board determined it lacked jurisdiction over the remaining issues in the case. Mr. Payne appealed the Board decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (“Veterans Court”). The Veterans Court affirmed in part, reversed in part, and dismissed in part the Board’s decision. Important to this appeal, the Veterans Court affirmed the Board’s determination that Mr. Payne was not entitled to an increase of his disability rating for HAVS and CTS. In addition, the Veterans Court reversed and remanded the Board’s determination that it lacked jurisdiction over the issues of entitlement to special monthly compensation and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (“TDIU”) prior to March 4, 2005. The Veterans Court dismissed, as abandoned, Mr. Payne’s appeal as to his entitlement to TDIU after August 31, 2011 and to disability compensation for a secondary condition of his service-connected disabilities. Mr. Payne now appeals to this court.