The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right shoulder disability and whether it is related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The case will be returned for further development.
The deciding factor: The July 2022 VA examiner provided inadequate medical opinions, based on an incomplete review of the record and failure to address the Veteran's reports of continuous pain and treatment history.
- Claimed conditions
- shoulder impingement syndrome, bicipital tendonitis, bicipital tendon tear, rotator cuff tendonitis, acromioclavicular osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 12, 2022
- Citation
- 22063316
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 22063316.
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 appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining clarification from the August 2017 VA examiner regarding which symptoms are related to his service-connected left trapezius strain and whether any non-service-connected conditions represent a progression of that disability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal regarding a rating for muscle atrophy due to thoracic outlet syndrome and related conditions has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbosacral strain and acquired psychiatric disability, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for osteoarthritis with rotator cuff tendonitis and shoulder strain, left shoulder, finding that the Veteran's current disability is at least as likely as not incurred in or caused by his in-service treatment.
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