The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for his right shoulder disability is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran was not provided proper notice regarding his right to a pre-decisional hearing, which constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, labral tear, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 12, 2026
- Citation
- A26013484
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 A26013484.
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 has found that the current medical opinion is inadequate and the record is incomplete without other opinions. The Veteran's left shoulder disorder may be related to service, but a VA examination is needed to determine if it was caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right shoulder disorder.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for left knee degenerative arthritis, right knee degenerative arthritis, right shoulder bicipital tendonitis, and left shoulder bicipital tendonitis with an effective date of September 1, 2017.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeals related to temporary total disability ratings for shoulder disabilities and the award of TDIU with an effective date prior to March 25, 2015.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of adequate examination addressing all diagnosed conditions, including right shoulder strain, bicipital tendonitis, and glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis.
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