The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of her neurological symptoms. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion clarifying whether these symptoms are related to either her cervical spine or right shoulder disability.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to specify what 'other' causes were referenced in the Veteran's reports and did not provide a rationale for why these neurological abnormalities were not associated with either disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Cervical degenerative changes with degenerative disc disease (DDD) C4-C6, Right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20033792
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 20033792.
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 has found that there has not been substantial compliance with the October 2025 remand directives and additional medical opinions discussing the ameliorative effects of medication related to the Veteran's lumbar spine, right shoulder, and headache disabilities must be obtained.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development and readjudication.
- Denied
The Board denied higher ratings for the Veteran's degenerative joint disease, radiculopathy of the right upper extremity, right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis, angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia, and pseudofolliculitis barbae.
- Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis with degenerative arthritis has been rated at 20 percent since December 10, 2016. The appeal is denied as the current disability does not warrant a higher rating.
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