The Board remands the claims for service connection for right and left shoulder torn rotator cuffs as further development is needed to obtain a medical examination and opinion.
The deciding factor: The absence of service treatment records necessitates a VA examination to determine if the current disabilities are related to service, given the Veteran's reported in-service injuries and hospitalizations.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder torn rotator cuff, left shoulder torn rotator cuff
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2025
- Citation
- A25046632
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 Board granted service connection for left elbow osteoarthritis, right elbow osteoarthritis, and right shoulder torn rotator cuff as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right shoulder tendonitis with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis. The rating was restored from 20% to 30%, and a 40% disability rating for the right shoulder condition was granted.
- 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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