The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder DJD due to insufficient medical opinions addressing whether the conditions are aggravated by a service-connected cervical strain and spondylosis with intervertebral disc syndrome. The case is being sent back for an addendum opinion.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous VA examiners did not address whether the bilateral shoulder DJD was aggravated by the service-connected cervical spine disability, which is a requirement for secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD), right shoulder DJD
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2021
- Citation
- A21020532
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 A21020532.
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 Board granted service connection for bilateral knee degenerative joint disease and right shoulder DJD, but denied service connection for a compensable rating for scar, right bunionectomy, bilateral hearing loss (BHL), and right radiculopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board denied service connection for an endocrine disorder, separate and distinct from hypothyroidism, and remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease, left shoulder DJD, and unspecified anxiety disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple degenerative joint diseases of the right and left wrist, knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for another VA examination to address the Veteran's lay contentions and the secondary service connection theory of entitlement.
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