The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for left shoulder strain, right elbow tendonitis, and left elbow tendonitis due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The AOJ should reschedule VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error in not scheduling VA examinations prior to adjudicating the claims, which were cancelled due to the Veteran's inability to be contacted. The AOJ should reschedule the examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- left shoulder strain, right elbow tendonitis, left elbow tendonitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 19, 2026
- Citation
- A26015171
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 A26015171.
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's hypertension, left shoulder strain, and right shoulder disability are all granted as service-connected.,The Veteran is also remanded for a rating in excess of 10 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and for service connection for sleep apnea.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a need for additional examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial 10% disability rating for left shoulder strain was upheld as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the September 2010 Rating Decision.
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