The Veteran's claims for service connection for left scapular strain, a compensable initial disability rating for right ear hearing loss, and an initial disability rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus are remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his claimed neurological injuries in his left shoulder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claims require further examination to determine if his current conditions are related to service or if there is any new evidence that would reopen a previously denied claim.
- Claimed conditions
- left scapular strain, rotator cuff tear, muscle tear, nerve injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19130799
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,249 · Granted: 37% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19130799.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018. The right shoulder disability is granted a rating of 40 percent effective August 31, 2018.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right shoulder impingement syndrome, rotator cuff tear, and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to stress on his joints from training and parachute jumps during active service. The evidence considered included the Veteran's statements, a private medical opinion, and a buddy statement.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right shoulder disabilities, and a new VA examination is needed to determine their likely etiology.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left shoulder osteoarthritis with rotator cuff and labral tears as secondary to his service-connected status-post clavicle fracture. The appeal regarding an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for depression was withdrawn by the Veteran.
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