The Board has determined that the claims for service connection and increased ratings are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions, incomplete development of records, and need for further examinations. The Veteran's right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss, left shoulder status-post impingement syndrome, status-post excision of numerous moles and cysts, atrial septal defect with residual chest pain, left bundle branch block, and chronic congestive heart failure, as well as the status-post right 4-8 fractured ribs, are all under review.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the medical opinions provided were insufficient to determine whether the Veteran's disabilities originated in service or were otherwise related to his military service. Additionally, there was incomplete development of records and a need for further examinations to provide more definitive opinions on the etiology of the disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder disability, bilateral hearing loss disability, left shoulder status-post impingement syndrome, status-post excision of numerous moles and cysts, atriial septal defect with residual chest pain, left bundle branch block, and chronic congestive heart failure, status-post right 4-8 fractured ribs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19132148
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for tinnitus and a right hip disability, and granted a 30 percent rating for ureterolithiasis. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD was denied, while other claims were remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and a TDIU, as the evidence did not support a finding that any of these disabilities were related to the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for right and left knee, shoulder, and knee scars disabilities, as well as a compensable disability rating for hypertension.
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