CAVC Case 23-4815: Back
CAVCReal U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) decision · 2024-10-15 · MEREDITH, Judge
This is a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims — the federal court that reviews Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions, one level above the Board. Court decisions can vacate, reverse, or affirm what the Board did.
Official 2026 VA monthly compensation, including the 2.8% COLA increase.
Dependent add-ons start at a 30% rating. Child-only and dependent-parent rates: see the full 2026 pay chart.
2026 base rates, all ratings (veteran alone)
| Rating | Monthly (2026, incl. 2.8% COLA) |
|---|---|
| 10% | $180.42 |
| 20% | $356.66 |
| 30% | $552.47 |
| 40% | $795.84 |
| 50% | $1,132.90 |
| 60% | $1,435.02 |
| 70% | $1,808.45 |
| 80% | $2,102.15 |
| 90% | $2,362.30 |
| 100% | $3,938.58 |
Conditions Claimed
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Issues on Appeal
Service Connection
Why It Was Decided This Way
He underwent a VA examination in November 2015 1 ;the examiner diagnosed bilateral shoulder strains and opined that the conditions are not related to service.
Regarding nexus,the examiner acknowledged the appellant's contention that he began having shoulder pain in 1981, but the examiner determined that the conditions were not likely related to service because it was not corroborated by the records.
The Board, in August 2022,found the November 2015 VA examiner's opinion to be inadequate,noting that the examiner had primarily relied on the absence of medical records in forming her negative nexus opinion,and the Board remanded the shoulder claims to obtain a new medical opinion.
The appellant underwent a second VA examination in November 2022;the examiner diagnosed bilateral shoulder strains and opined that the conditions are not related to service.
In explaining her negative nexus opinion,the examiner noted in part that there was no evidence of chronicity during service or after service, as would be expected if parachute jumps or physical training had caused a chronic shoulder disability.
The following month,the Board found that remand was required because the November 2022 opinion was inadequate,noting that the examiner had relied primarily on the absence of contemporaneous medical records to render a negative nexus opinion and that such an opinion is inadequate for adjudicative purposes.
In April 2023,the Board denied disability compensation for left and right shoulder conditions.
Specifically,he avers that the clinician primarily based her negative nexus opinion on the lack of contemporaneous medical records,even though the Board instructed that such reliance is improper.
Authorities Cited
Denial Type
No Nexus|Duty To Assist|Inadequate Exam
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