The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability, as it is inadequate due to the lack of consideration of all evidence and updated VA treatment records. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s left shoulder disability is related to his in-service duties or if it was aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous examination opinions were inadequate as they did not consider all of the evidence, including the Veteran's lay statements and updated VA treatment records. The examiner must provide an opinion regarding whether the left shoulder disability is related to in-service duties or if it was aggravated by his service-connected lumbosacral spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20004763
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 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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for various musculoskeletal conditions of the left and right hands, shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, and foot, but granted service connection for a right knee disability and fibromyalgia. The decision was based on medical evidence that did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a right elbow disability, left hand disability, and left shoulder disability to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions in relation to the Veteran's reported in-service injuries.
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