The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and he is now entitled to a TDIU effective March 14, 2016.,VA denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his left shoulder scar. The Veteran was granted service connection on March 14, 2016, when he filed his claim for a TDIU.,The Veteran’s claim for increased ratings of his left shoulder disability and left shoulder scar remains pending as the Board has remanded these issues.,VA denied the Veteran's request to connect his right wrist disorder with service. The issue is currently under review by the Board.
The deciding factor: New evidence was submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's left shoulder scar does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 7801 and 7804. The scar is not deep or nonlinear with an area greater than 6 square inches (39 square centimeters).,VA regulations dictate that the date of receipt of claim should be the effective date assigned, which in this case was March 14, 2016, when the Veteran filed his TDIU claim.,The Veteran's left shoulder disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 5201-5203. The examiner found no evidence of ankylosis or impairment of the humerus or clavicle/scapula, and the Veteran’s symptoms do not suggest these conditions.,VA denied service connection for the right wrist disorder due to lack of evidence linking it to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Left shoulder scar, Left shoulder disability, Right wrist disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 12, 2019
- Citation
- 19128749
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19128749.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 13, 2018, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Veteran also meets the schedular criteria for entitlement to TDIU prior to June 1, 2023.
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