The Board has decided the TDIU claim and remanded for further examination of shoulder conditions. The issues of rating in excess of 30 percent, 40 percent, and 20 percent for shoulder disabilities are also being remanded.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disabilities and right shoulder surgical scars due to the long period since the last VA examination.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, right arm neuropathy, right shoulder surgical scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2021
- Citation
- 21015070
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 21015070.
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 the current medical opinion is inadequate and the record is incomplete without other opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left shoulder disability, including rotator cuff tear with degenerative arthritis and tendonitis, finding that it is related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for additional examination.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability has been granted and rendered moot. The claims for compensable ratings for chronic rhinitis and right shoulder surgical scars have been denied.
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