Citation Nr: 21028626 Decision Date: 05/12/21 Archive Date: 05/12/21 DOCKET NO. 18-20 861 DATE: May 12, 2021 ORDER Service connection for Raynaud's disease (previously claimed as residuals of a cold weather injury) is granted. FINDING OF FACT Resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor, his Raynaud's disease was incurred during service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for Raynaud's disease have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 5107(b) (2012); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.304 (2020). REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from July 1960 to January 1962. This matter comes before the Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) on appeal from an April 2017 rating decision by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In June 2019, the Veteran testified at a Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge. In November 2019, the Board reopened and remanded this matter for additional development; the case is now back before the undersigned. In March 2021 correspondence, VA notified the Veteran that it was unable to produce a complete transcript of his June 2019 hearing due to audio malfunctions. VA offered the Veteran an opportunity to testify at another hearing before the Board. As the Board's decision on the issue addressed at the hearing is fully favorable to the Veteran, the Board finds there is no prejudice in proceeding with final adjudication. Service connection for residuals of a cold weather injury is granted. The Veteran contends that the residuals of a cold weather injury are a result of him being exposed to cold weather during his service in Germany in the 1960s. He first experienced stinging and burning in his hands while performing guard duty and removing snow during his first month in Germany. While his symptoms decreased, they persisted while he was on active duty. Following separation, the discomfort in his fingers would recur during cold weather. The Board concludes that the Veteran has a current disability that is related to his active duty service as VA private treatment records show that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of Raynaud's syndrome. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1131, 5107(b); Holton v. Shinseki, 557 F.3d 1363, 1366 (Fed. Cir. 2009); 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Thus, the question becomes whether the current disability is related to service. On this question there are probative opinions in favor of and against the claim. The evidence against the claim includes an August 2020 VA examination. The Veteran's symptoms included stinging and burning in his hands and fingers; difficulty grasping tools; inability to make a fist; and decreased movements in his fingers. The examiner did not diagnose a cold injury but noted that the Veteran has well-documented bilateral hand osteoarthritis and that the symptoms he described were more likely related to his established osteoarthritis than his "short-lived cold weather injury in the early 1960s[.]" She further noted that acro-osteolysis of the distal fingers are more frequently associated with frostbite, and that such findings were not present on his most recent bilateral hand x-rays. She also opined that frostbite does not cause Raynaud's syndrome, but that Raynaud's "may result in frostbite." The examiner cited to an article from the Mayo Clinic that states doctors do not completely understand the cause of Raynaud attacks but that blood vessels in the hands and feet appear to overreact to cold temperatures or stress. Specifically, the arteries in the fingers go into vacospasm when exposed to cold or stress, which narrows the vessels and temporarily limits blood supply. The article notes that cold temperatures are most likely to trigger an attack. The evidence in favor of the claim includes a January 2017 VA treatment record that includes a diagnosis of Raynaud's disease with a comment that such is "likely related to frost bite (sic) injury while working in Germany." Upon review of the record, the Board finds the evidence to be at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's Raynaud's disease is related to his service. While the August 2020 VA examiner related the Veteran's symptoms to bilateral hand osteoarthritis, she also cited to medical research showing that cold temperatures, similar to what the Veteran experienced while stationed in Germany, are most likely to trigger an attack of Raynaud's. The Veteran has also competently and credibly reported that he has continued to experience discomfort in his fingers during cold weather following his separation from service. Additionally, the Veteran's VA providers have stated that his Raynaud's disease is likely related to a frostbite injury while working in Germany. Accordingly, after resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, the Board finds that service connection for Raynaud's disease is warranted. 38 U.S.C. § 5107; 38 C.F.R. § 3.102. E. I. VELEZ Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board T. Matta, 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.