The Veteran's service connection claim for a right arm condition, including tendonitis, has been denied.,Service connection for irritable bowel syndrome is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran’s PTSD exacerbates her irritable bowel syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,A rating of 20 percent, and no higher, is granted for cervical spine strain.,The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition (abnormal kyphosis), hemorrhoids, chronic anxiety-induced indigestion, increased urinary frequency, and anxiety disorder.,,,,
The deciding factor: There is no current diagnosis of any right arm disability. The Veteran did not have a right arm condition at the time her claim was filed or during its pendency.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and PTSD, which is service-connected. The opinion from her private physician supports that PTSD exacerbates her irritable bowel syndrome.,The objective medical evidence does not demonstrate limitation of motion to shoulder level, but the Veteran experiences pain at 90 degrees on abduction. Therefore, a rating of 20 percent is warranted for right shoulder tendonitis and impingement syndrome.,The objective medical evidence shows forward flexion limited to 30 degrees with painful motion, which does not meet the criteria for an increased rating under DC 5237. The Veteran’s cervical spine strain is currently rated at 20 percent.,There is no current diagnosis of abnormal kyphosis. The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a back condition (abnormal kyphosis) to obtain an opinion on whether it is caused or aggravated by her service-connected neck and shoulder disabilities.,,,,
- Claimed conditions
- Right Arm Condition, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Right Shoulder Tendonitis and Impingement Syndrome, Cervical Spine Strain, Back Condition (Abnormal Kyphosis), Hemorrhoids, Chronic Anxiety-Induced Indigestion, Increased Urinary Frequency, Anxiety Disorder, Right Wrist Neuralgia, Status Post Dorsal Mass Excision and Pin Neurectomy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18127980
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 18127980.
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 Veteran's initial ratings for anxiety disorder and TBI were denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2024 rating decision because the March 2024 rating decision was an initial decision granting service connection for anxiety disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased evaluation of his hemorrhoids, so the case is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of rationale in the VA examiner's opinion and an inconsistency between the examination report and nexus opinion.
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