The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disability and a left shoulder disability, both claimed as secondary to a service-connected low back disability. However, these claims are still pending because further development is required.,The Veteran's current theory of service connection is that her disabilities are secondary to a neck disability, which has been granted in the July 2023 rating decision.
The deciding factor: Further VA examinations and opinions are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's right upper extremity condition and left shoulder disability, as well as whether they are related to her service-connected neck disability.,VA medical opinions should be obtained to clarify the relationship between the Veteran's current disabilities and her service-connected neck disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Upper Extremity Disability, Left Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 13, 2024
- Citation
- 24011848
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 24011848.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for an extension of a temporary total rating for his left shoulder disability, finding that he did not require convalescence beyond August 31, 2011 following his surgery.
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