The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations. The AOJ is instructed to attempt rescheduling the Veteran's missed VA examinations.
The deciding factor: The Veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder, Patellofemoral pain syndrome, limitation of flexion of the right knee, Left knee condition (not specified), Sciatic nerve pain
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26010099
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 A26010099.
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.
- Granted
The reduction of the evaluation from 50 percent to 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the right shoulder was improper, and the 40 percent evaluation is restored.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine, right shoulder, and right wrist due to a need for additional development.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for low back pain and migraines, effective October 1, 2019. The claim for sciatic nerve pain was remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for cervical spine, right shoulder, right and left hip, and right and left knee disorders as secondary to a back disability due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship with the back disability.
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