The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence in the VA examinations and the need for additional medical records.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations were inadequate as they did not address the etiology of the Veteran’s shoulder and cervical spine disabilities based on his lay statements detailing in-service events.
- Claimed conditions
- rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder, rotator cuff tendonitis of the right shoulder, cervical strain with cervical degenerative disc and degenerative joint disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19150365
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 rotator cuff tendonitis of the left shoulder, right knee strain, right ankle strain, and sinusitis. The appeal was denied for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic lumbar spine sprain associated with degenerative arthritis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.