The Board remands the matter for another VA examination to address the Veteran's lay contentions and the secondary service connection theory of entitlement.
The deciding factor: The previous opinion reports were found inadequate as they dismissed the Veteran's lay contentions without addressing the secondary service connection theory, despite clear instructions from the Board.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder degenerative joint disease (DJD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 6, 2025
- Citation
- 25007628
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 Board denied service connection for an endocrine disorder, separate and distinct from hypothyroidism, and remanded the issues of increased ratings for left knee degenerative joint disease, left shoulder DJD, and unspecified anxiety disorder.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's left shoulder DJD was granted a 30 percent rating, while the claim for a compensable rating for her left shoulder scar was denied. The effective date for both conditions remains May 3, 2024.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.