The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and depression. The Veteran's claim of bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to incomplete factual premise in the VA examiner's opinion.,The Veteran's lung disability, claimed as asbestosis, is remanded because the VA examiner did not address whether it was caused by asbestos exposure during service or if it aggravated any other condition.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is no evidence of a left shoulder injury in service and the Veteran's descriptions of the incident are inconsistent. The medical records do not support a current diagnosis of depression.,The VA examiner did not address whether the Veteran’s diagnosed pleural thick thickness was caused by asbestos exposure during service or if it aggravated any other condition.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20000987
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including back pain, knee and wrist joint pains, neck pain, anxiety, depression, as further development is needed to properly adjudicate these claims.
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