The Veteran's appeal of the initial rating assigned for her service-connected left shoulder disability is remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The right elbow and bilateral plantar fasciitis appeals are also remanded, as well as the cystic acne with scarring appeal which requires a retrospective opinion.,The TDIU appeal is also remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding employment in a protected environment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's initial rating for her service-connected left shoulder disability must be reconsidered as the examination reports are inadequate. The right elbow and bilateral plantar fasciitis appeals require additional examinations, while the cystic acne with scarring appeal requires a retrospective opinion to determine when the impairment began.,For the TDIU appeal, the AOJ needs to request a statement from the Veteran's employer regarding accommodations made for her work during the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Shoulder Disability, Right Elbow Disability, Bilateral Plantar Fasciitis, Cystic Acne with Scarring
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23062470
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 23062470.
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 claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
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