Citation Nr: 18147212
Decision Date: 11/02/18	Archive Date: 11/02/18

DOCKET NO. 15-28 385
DATE:	November 2, 2018
ORDER
Entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury is granted.
FINDING OF FACT
The Veteran’s residuals of a right wrist injury began in service. 
CONCLUSION OF LAW
The criteria for entitlement to service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury have been satisfied.  38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131, 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303.
REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION
The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from September 1952 to September 1956.
This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from an August 2014 rating decision from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO).  The Veteran presented sworn testimony at a hearing before the undersigned in October 2018.  
Service Connection
The Board finds that service connection for residuals of a right wrist injury is warranted.  Establishing service connection generally requires medical or, in certain circumstances, lay evidence of (1) a current disability; (2) an in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury; and (3) a nexus between the claimed in-service disease or injury and the present disability).  See Davidson v. Shinseki, 581 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir. 2009); Hickson v. West, 12 Vet. App. 247, 253 (1999); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a).  In this case, the evidence shows that the Veteran has had symptoms of pain and numbness in his right hand and wrist and contracture of the right long and ring fingers during the appeal period.  He has been diagnosed with arthritis in the right hand and wrist.  See May 2012 Medical Record.  The Veteran reports that he was a canine handler in service and injured his right wrist when his canine alerted on a potential danger, causing him to fall into a rock pile.  His reports are corroborated by the statement of fellow service member J.L.M.  See September 2014 Buddy Statement.  The Veteran further reports that his right hand, wrist and finger symptoms began after his right wrist injury in service and have gotten progressively worse over time.  The Veteran and his lay witness are competent to provide testimony as to their observations, and the Board finds their reports credible.  See Layno v. Brown, 6 Vet. App. 465 (1994).  Thus, all three elements necessary to establish service connection have been met.  

 
STEVEN D. REISS
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	Tracie N. Wesner, Counsel