The Board has denied service connection for neck and left shoulder disorders, as well as a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative disc disease (lumbar spine). The Veteran's claims for these issues are being remanded.,Service connection is also denied for right wrist and right knee DJD. These claims are also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the current neck or left shoulder disorders are related to service, despite the Veteran's assertions.,Similarly, there is no evidence linking the current left wrist and right wrist conditions to service. The Veteran's STRs do not indicate any specific injuries or diagnoses related to these issues.
- Claimed conditions
- neck disorder, left shoulder disorder, left wrist disorder, right wrist disorder, degenerative disc disease (lumbar spine), right knee degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18158084
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 18158084.
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 has remanded the claims for service connection for right and left wrist disorders due to a duty to assist error in failing to provide notice of a hearing.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, asthma, melasma and hydradenitis, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression, anxiety, and stress), left shoulder disorder, right shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, a left foot disorder, and IBS have been granted. The remaining issues are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left wrist disorder and its relationship to service, including his right hand fracture.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that side effects from prescribed medications contributed substantially and materially to his accidental motorcycle collision resulting in fatal injuries.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.