The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for conjunctivitis, keratitis, and corneal opacities as well as a higher initial rating for chronic dry eyes. The claim for service connection was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions. The claim for a higher initial rating for chronic dry eyes was granted with a 10% disability rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's claims were denied because the evidence did not support a diagnosis of conjunctivitis, keratitis, or corneal opacities and there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to mustard gas exposure. The claim for chronic dry eyes met the criteria for a 10% disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal opacities
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2000
- Citation
- 0002698
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0002698.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for chronic allergic rhinitis, chronic conjunctivitis, chronic hives, a cervical spine disorder, and pes planus as these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty and ACDUTRA service.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for keratitis and conjunctivitis due to insufficient efforts made to schedule a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for symptoms analogous to chronic conjunctivitis and scarring and disfigurement attributable to bilateral pinguecula, effective January 29, 2025.
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