The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbar degenerative changes and left shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative changes, as well as his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The case is also remanded to address the need for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous decisions were not supported by sufficient reasons and bases and ordered new examinations and reviews of evidence related to these claims.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar degenerative changes, left shoulder rotator cuff tear with degenerative changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19144926
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,987 · Granted: 15% (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 19144926.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for depression, right knee disability, left knee disability, and lumbar degenerative changes as there was no new and material evidence submitted to reopen these claims.
- Denied
The Veteran's residuals of status post lumbar laminectomy prior to August 16, 2017 were rated at 10 percent and the Board found that a higher rating was not warranted based on the evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back injury and left shoulder disability has been granted. The VA is remanding the claims for increased ratings for his elbow, wrist, and knee disabilities, as well as the TDIU issue.
- Denied
The Veteran's lumbar degenerative changes and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been rated, but the current ratings are denied as they do not reflect the severity of his conditions.
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