The Veteran seeks compensation for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joint (chest and ribs) claimed as secondary to injury to the thoracic muscles with resection of 4th rib. The case is remanded due to inadequate examination in determining if there was aggravation.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, neck, and thoracic joint was aggravated by the thoracic muscle injury with resection of the 4th rib is needed for a proper decision on the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, osteoarthritis of the neck, osteoarthritis of the thoracic joint
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 8, 2011
- Citation
- 1122300
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1122300.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for torn labrum and osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, finding no unadjudicated claim prior to October 20, 2014.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left knee is granted. The claim for service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder is remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's motion to revise a non-compensable rating decision for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder is denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original determination.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for osteoarthritis of the left shoulder, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
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