The Veteran's left shoulder condition, specifically his left clavicle fracture, needs further evaluation due to unclear findings in the previous VA examination report. The case is being remanded for a new medical examination.
The deciding factor: There are discrepancies and ambiguities in the previous VA examination report that require clarification to accurately assess the severity of the Veteran's left shoulder condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Left clavicle fracture
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19131193
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,038 · Granted: 30% (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 19131193.
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 left clavicle fracture resulted in painful motion of the AC joint, which is rated at a minimum of 20 percent under VA regulations. The appeal for higher ratings was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of the cause of the Veteran's death to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including obtaining private medical records and a supplemental medical opinion.
- Granted
The Veteran's left shoulder disability, specifically the residuals of his clavicular fracture, is rated at 20 percent. The Board found that the Veteran's condition more closely approximated limitation of motion of the arm midway between the side and shoulder level, warranting a 20 percent rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's thoracolumbar spine disorder is now rated at 20 percent, effective April 10, 2023. The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left clavicle fracture from October 29, 2015.
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