The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for the increased 20 percent rating for right shoulder painful scars due to a duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: A remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion to determine how many of the Veteran's right shoulder scars were painful prior to February 22, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder painful scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2025
- Citation
- A25034809
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.
- Partly granted
The veteran was granted a 10% rating for right shoulder scars and service connection for left shoulder issues secondary to the right shoulder. The claim for erectile dysfunction was dismissed.
- 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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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