The Board dismissed the appeal because the proposed combination of separate ratings for right shoulder joint replacement and right shoulder rotator cuff tear with post-traumatic arthritis to a single rating is not an appealable decision.
The deciding factor: The January 2026 rating decision was a proposal, not a final determination, and thus not an appealable action.
- Claimed conditions
- right shoulder joint replacement, right shoulder rotator cuff tear with post-traumatic arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 30, 2026
- Citation
- A26040603
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 A26040603.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a rating in excess of 20 percent for right shoulder rotator cuff tear with post-traumatic arthritis is dismissed. The claim for total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right shoulder disability, including degenerative disorders and a total reverse shoulder replacement. The Board found that the current disability is related to an in-service shoulder injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for left knee, right knee, and right shoulder disabilities due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.