The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran needs a VA examination to address whether his diagnosed disabilities are related to active service or service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the April 2019 VA Shoulder and Arm Conditions examination did not adequately address the Veteran's contentions regarding the relationship between his diagnosed shoulder conditions and active service, service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain, and lower extremity disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, left shoulder, mild degenerative osteoarthrosis, right shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2021
- Citation
- A21018945
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 A21018945.
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.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's service connection for left shoulder strain, labral tear, acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and tendinitis was granted, while the effective date prior to November 11, 2023, for migraine headaches was denied.
- Dismissed
The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions and the propriety of a rating reduction has been withdrawn by the Appellant.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a left shoulder disability to secure an addendum opinion that adequately considers the Veteran's reported in-service injury and continuous symptoms.
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