The appeal involving service connection for a neck disability is dismissed.,The appeal involving an effective date prior to December 6, 1972 for service connection for a right shoulder disability is dismissed. The appeal involving an effective date prior to February 11, 2013 for service connection for a left shoulder disability is denied.,An increased initial evaluation of 30 percent for right shoulder status post reverse arthroplasty from May 29, 2012 to May 13, 2013 is granted. An increased initial evaluation of 40 percent for right shoulder status post reverse arthroplasty as of June 1, 2017 is denied.,Prior to February 3, 2020, an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected left shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff impingement is denied. As of February 3, 2020, a rating of 30 percent for service-connected left shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff impingement is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s representative requested withdrawal of the appeal on the issues of service connection for a neck disability and an effective date prior to December 6, 1972 for service connection for a right shoulder disability.,The RO assigned an effective date for service connection of February 11, 2013, which was later granted by the Board. The Veteran has not asserted or provided evidence that he filed a claim for a left shoulder disability prior to this date.,Prior to April 25, 2016, the right shoulder disability met the criteria for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent based on limitation of motion (abduction limited to 55 degrees with repetitive motion).,As of June 1, 2017, the left shoulder degenerative joint disease with rotator cuff impingement did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent due to ankylosis between favorable and unfavorable (intermediate) levels.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Shoulder Disability, Left Shoulder Degenerative Joint Disease with Rotator Cuff Impingement
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 14, 2020
- Citation
- 20025463
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 20025463.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to his service-connected TMJ.
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