The Board has found that there were pre-decisional duty to assist errors and a remand is required for the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for trouble sleeping, left shoulder pain, and left wrist pain. The VA was not able to obtain relevant private treatment records due to lack of notification or follow-up.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there were duty to assist errors as the VA did not notify the Veteran about scheduled examinations and failed to provide adequate follow-up for missed appointments.
- Claimed conditions
- trouble sleeping, left shoulder pain, left wrist pain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 17, 2021
- Citation
- A21020172
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation A21020172.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen previously denied service connection claims for various joint conditions, including right ankle arthritis, left ankle arthritis, right shoulder pain, left shoulder pain, right knee arthritis, and left knee arthritis. The skin condition claim is remanded.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in duty to assist and need for additional medical opinions. The Veteran's pre-existing conditions are being evaluated, as is his current symptoms.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for skin cancer, facial scars, impairment of cranial nerve V and VII, left eye condition with watering and dryness, and left shoulder pain due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder pain and a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee strain, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current conditions and his military service.
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