The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial rating for his left shoulder disability was denied. The Board found that the July 2002 denial of service connection was final, and no new and material evidence had been received within one year of notification.
The deciding factor: No new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for a left shoulder disability between the notice of the July 2002 rating decision and the August 27, 2007, claim for that benefit.
- Claimed conditions
- rotator cuff tear of the left shoulder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 26, 2012
- Citation
- 1237160
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1237160.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to outstanding VA Community Care records that need to be obtained.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to inadequate examinations of the Veteran's shoulder and spine disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for his left shoulder disability was denied. A separate and compensable rating of 20 percent, but no higher, from January 24, 2022, for recurrent dislocation of the minor scapulohumeral joint with infrequent episodes and guarding of movement only at shoulder level, is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to February 29, 2016 and special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status prior to December 18, 2018.,The Board has deferred a decision on his TDIU claim pending further development of his SMC claim.
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