Citation Nr: 18155232 Decision Date: 12/03/18 Archive Date: 12/03/18 DOCKET NO. 15-05 355 DATE: December 3, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disorder, to include a neuroma of the radial nerve, is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran had active duty service from March 1979 to March 1984. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a February 2013 rating decision from a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In this regard, the Board notes that a May 2010 rating decision initially denied the Veteran’s claim for service connection for a right wrist disorder primarily on the basis that she failed to report for a VA examination without good cause. However, in June 2010, within one year of the issuance of such decision, VA received a statement from the Veteran indicating that she had been unable to attend her scheduled VA examination as she was attending a post-operative appointment. Consequently, her claim was reconsidered in the February 2013 rating decision pursuant to 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(b). Therefore, the current appeal stems from the Veteran’s original June 2009 claim for service connection. In August 2018, the Veteran was advised that her requested Board hearing before a Veterans Law Judge had been scheduled for October 2018. Despite being reminded of such hearing earlier in the month, she failed to appear for it. She has not presented good cause for her absence or requested that such hearing be rescheduled. Therefore, the Board finds that her request for a Board hearing is withdrawn. 38 C.F.R. § 20.704(d). Entitlement to service connection for a right wrist disorder, to include a neuroma of the radial nerve. The Veteran contends that she has a right wrist disorder, to include a neuroma of the radial nerve, related to her military service. In this regard, her service treatment records indicate that, in May 1983, she was diagnosed with neuroma and thrombophlebitis of the right forearm. In June 1983, an examiner noted that the Veteran had complaints of increasing pain in the area of her right forearm, which caused numerous problems in the past, and observed that she had a history of septic thrombophlebitis of the cephalic vein of the right arm and had neuroma approximately two inches proximal to the radial styloid. In March 2012, the Veteran was afforded a VA examination so as to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed right wrist disorder. At such time, no EMG (electromyography) studies were performed, and there was no neuroma noted and no definitive evidence of radial nerve injury of right forearm. However, the examiner indicated that an EMG was recommended to determine the physiologic extent and distribution of peripheral neuropathy. In this regard, she stated that there appeared to be a supratentorial component affecting sensory and motor testing that made assessment of peripheral neuropathy difficult. In November 2013, a VA examiner opined that the Veteran’s claimed right wrist disorder was less likely than not incurred in or caused by the claimed in-service injury, event, or illness. As rationale, she explained that, per the March 2012 VA examination, there was no neuroma noted and no definitive evidence of radial nerve injury of the right forearm. The examiner further stated that an EMG was recommended to verify findings based on supratentorial disposition potentially affecting examination results; however, such was not performed. However, the record contains a document indicating that the Veteran was scheduled for the requested EMG; but had reported that she recently had surgery and was unable to attend any appointments at such time. Consequently, as the Veteran presented good cause for failing to report to her EMG examination, a remand is necessary in order to schedule her for a new VA examination with appropriate testing so as to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed right wrist disorder, to include a neuroma of the radial nerve. The matter is REMANDED for the following action: Afford the Veteran an appropriate VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed right wrist disorder, to include a neuroma of the radial nerve. The record, to include a complete copy of this remand, must be made available to the examiner, and all indicated tests and studies, to include EMG testing, should be accomplished. Thereafter, the examiner should address the following inquires: (A) The examiner should identify any right wrist disorder the Veteran has had since shortly before, at the time of, or during the pendency of the June 2009 claim (even if currently asymptomatic or resolved), to include a neuroma of the radial nerve. If the examiner finds that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis referable to the right wrist, he or she should offer an opinion as to whether her reported symptoms results in the functional impairment of earning capacity (which is considered a disability for VA compensation purposes). (B) For each right wrist disability, offer an opinion as to whether it is at least as likely as not (i.e., a 50 percent or greater probability) that such is related to the Veteran’s military service, to include her in-service complaints and treatment in May 1983. A rationale for any opinion should be offered. A. JAEGER Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD Brooks, Brennae