The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and causation of the Veteran's right shoulder disability. A new VA examination is required.
The deciding factor: The examiner must consider whether the Veteran's current right shoulder disability is attributable to service, including his in-service injury during a tank exercise and post-service self-medication for years until pain increased in severity.
- Claimed conditions
- Right shoulder impingement syndrome, Rotator cuff tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 13, 2021
- Citation
- 21063252
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 21063252.
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 claim for an increased evaluation of his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will provide the Veteran with another VA examination to assess the severity and manifestations of his service-connected right shoulder impingement syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, rotator cuff tear, tendonitis, and degenerative arthritis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his right shoulder impingement syndrome is being remanded due to the failure to obtain relevant private treatment records.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent disabling, effective from the date of this decision. The TDIU claim is denied as moot due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD already meeting the criteria for a total schedular rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's disability ratings for neck and right shoulder conditions were reduced, but the Board found these reductions improper due to lack of proper procedural steps.
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