The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings for left and right shoulder disabilities, entitlement to TDIU, and SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities. Additional examinations are needed for the shoulder conditions, and development is required to address pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in addressing TDIU and SMC claims.
The deciding factor: The Board found that additional VA examinations were necessary to ensure compliance with rating criteria and that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding TDIU and SMC claims due to the presence of relevant examination reports prior to decision on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder disability, right shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 24, 2021
- Citation
- A21018835
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 A21018835.
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 Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for residuals of gallbladder removal and remanded the other claims due to insufficient evidence.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for right shoulder, right shin, and left shin disabilities manifested by pain causing impairment in earning capacity. The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony regarding his symptoms during service.
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