The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for his right shoulder condition and TDIU are being remanded due to the inadequacy of prior VA examinations. The case will be returned for further evaluation.
The deciding factor: The previous VA examinations were inadequate, lacking specific findings regarding range of motion during flare-ups and functional loss caused by pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Right shoulder rotator cuff tear, Degenerative joint disease (dominant)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20066359
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,062 · Granted: 34% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20066359.
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 Veteran's SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied as his service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless that he needed regular aid and attendance. The criteria for SMC at the housebound rate have also not been met.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder rotator cuff tear is granted as service connected, with the Board finding a causal link between his in-service injury and current symptoms.
- Denied
The Board denied increased evaluations for asthma, PTSD with sleep deprivation, and right shoulder rotator cuff tear. The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for high blood pressure and TDIU was remanded.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the right shoulder rotator cuff tear, finding that the disability did not meet or more nearly approximate limitation of motion to midway between the side and shoulder level.
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