The Veteran's application to reopen the claim for service connection for a mental health condition is denied. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for recurrent dislocation of the left shoulder with degenerative changes, status post right inguinal hernia, and residual surgical scar, status post right inguinal hernia repair are remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the April 2011 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for service connection for a mental health condition.
- Claimed conditions
- mental health condition
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2021
- Citation
- 21061980
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,451 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 21061980.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for segmental and somatic dysfunction of lumbar and thoracic region due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims for stage 4 rectal cancer, bladder condition secondary to rectal cancer, and mental health condition secondary to rectal cancer are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and a mental health condition, as well as his requests for higher ratings for GERD with esophageal polyps and Barrett's esophagus. The evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or related to service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the December 16, 2024 rating decision.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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