The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left shoulder disability is denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to service.,Her right wrist tendonitis has been rated at its maximum schedular rating (10%) and further evaluation is needed due to worsening symptoms.,The Veteran’s right hand weakness, which she claims is secondary to her right wrist tendonitis, was not addressed in the most recent VA examination. Further evaluation is required to determine if it should be service-connected.,Her low back disability has been rated at 40% and a higher rating is sought due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left shoulder condition was not present in service or for many years thereafter, and there is no evidence linking it to service.,Right wrist tendonitis has been rated at its maximum schedular rating (10%) due to limited motion. Further evaluation is needed as the symptoms have worsened since the last VA examination.,The right hand weakness was not addressed in the most recent VA examination, and further evaluation is required to determine if it should be service-connected.,Her low back disability has been rated at 40% and a higher rating is sought due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Disability, Right Wrist Tendonitis, Right Hand Weakness, Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20032528
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 20032528.
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 claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his low back, left knee, and right knee disabilities due to inadequate VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to obtain private treatment records from Mays & Schnapp Pain Management and schedule the Veteran for additional medical examinations.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
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