The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left shoulder rotator cuff condition is related to service, specifically his in-service shoulder pain and a 2004 injury while stationed in Iraq. The examiner must address these issues and provide an opinion on whether the current condition was caused or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder impingement.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the opinions provided were incomplete for adjudication purposes, specifically regarding the aggravation analysis and the Veteran's alleged 2004 injury in Iraq.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder status post rotator cuff tear repair, left shoulder impingement
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19124080
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 service connection for various conditions and dismissed claims, with some issues remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of March 4, 2014 for the award of service connection for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy but denied a higher rating for left shoulder impingement.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, finding that there was not enough evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for loss of use of the right upper extremity was denied, but his claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance (A&A) was granted.
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