The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for scalp scars is denied.,The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for left shoulder disability and increased rating for lumbar strain due to incomplete development.
The deciding factor: Incomplete development in the claims file, particularly regarding the examination reports related to the left shoulder condition and heart condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Scalp scars, Left shoulder disability, Heart condition (trivial mitral regurgitation), Lumbar strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19191410
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 19191410.
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 appeal for increased ratings for right and left shoulder disabilities, as the evidence did not support a higher rating under applicable criteria.
- Granted
The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for osteoarthritis of the right hand and service connection for a left shoulder disability.
- Dismissed
The appeals for service connection for right ear hearing loss and a compensable evaluation for left ear hearing loss were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals at a December 2024 Board hearing. The remaining claims are being remanded for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder disability from November 1, 2024, to correct a duty to assist error.
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