The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including bilateral upper extremity disabilities, meet the schedular criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. However, additional development is needed to determine his employability due to these conditions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran has limitations in physical employment due to his left shoulder condition and cannot perform overhead activities with his arms or repetitive pushing/pulling activities.
- Claimed conditions
- weakness of the right supraspinatus and teres minor muscle with partial subluxation of the right shoulder, degenerative changes of the right (dominant) shoulder, rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, left shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff disruption
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- October 10, 2012
- Citation
- 1235118
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 1235118.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis of various body parts due to in-service exposure to hazardous materials, as an addendum opinion is needed.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, right shoulder, left hip, and left knee due to his withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for various service-connected conditions have been remanded by the Board due to additional development needed.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his thoracolumbar spine disability and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathies, have rendered him unemployable since October 15, 2019. A TDIU rating is granted from that date.
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