The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the inadequacy of a VA examination report and the need for additional medical opinions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the August 2017 VA examination report was inadequate, particularly regarding functional loss during flare-ups or with repeated use over time. Additionally, there is an absence of testing for pain on active and passive motion in the September 2010 VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the lumbar spine, Right shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 29, 2019
- Citation
- 19166814
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 19166814.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include a mood disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a compensable disability rating for chronic kidney disease and service connection for blurry vision, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder strain.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed all claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings for service-connected conditions, as well as the claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction, due to the Veteran's death and the fact that no unadjudicated issues were pending at the time of his passing.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and related knee and shoulder strains as there was no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.
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