The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for left shoulder and bilateral knee disabilities due to missing records and inconsistencies in previous examinations.
The deciding factor: There are possible missing records pertinent to the claim on appeal, including x-ray scans of the left shoulder and bilateral knees that may be associated with the file but are not currently available.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, Degenerative joint disease of right knee, Degenerative joint disease of left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19131802
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 remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder to obtain an addendum opinion that considers the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 20 percent for degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder and a rating in excess of 10 percent for a status post left ankle fracture to obtain additional medical opinions.
- Granted
The Board granted increased ratings for the Veteran's degenerative spondylosis at L5-S1, left and right shoulder disabilities, left and right knee disabilities, and depressive disorder.
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