The Veteran's right shoulder disability is currently rated at 20% under the old rating criteria. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated VA examination and determine the current severity of the service-connected condition without considering any ameliorative effects of medication.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the AOJ's rating decision did not satisfy its regulatory duty to apply the relevant rating criteria, specifically regarding actual range-of-motion testing and discounting any ameliorative effect of medication.
- Claimed conditions
- Right rotator cuff tear
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2026
- Citation
- A26035337
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 A26035337.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, specifically his right rotator cuff tear, is rated at 30 percent since December 2013. The Board found that the evidence does not show a limitation of motion to 25 degrees from side during any part of the appeal period.
- Granted
The Veteran's right rotator cuff tear and glenohumeral joint instability are rated at 20 percent effective December 22, 2021.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's TDIU claim is dismissed because he has a 100% schedular rating for ischemic heart disease and SMC benefits based on statutory housebound status due to other service-connected disabilities, rendering the TDIU claim moot.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a right shoulder disability, to include as secondary to service-connected knee disabilities, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding causation and aggravation.
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