The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral eye disability, characterized as blindness of both eyes, is not service-connected and denied his claim. The claim for a rating in excess of noncompensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the fourth finger of the left hand was also denied.
The deciding factor: There is no medical evidence linking any current bilateral eye disability to active service.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral eye disability (characterized as blindness of both eyes), myopic degeneration, retinal dystrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2000
- Citation
- 0006305
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 0006305.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed eye disabilities, including nuclear sclerosis, retinal dystrophy, and macular degeneration. The VA needs to provide a supplemental opinion addressing these issues.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, finding that there is no probative and competent medical evidence linking his current eye disorders to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board also found that the Veteran's eye disorders are not related to a possible explosion injury in Vietnam.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's loss of vision. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for a neuro-ophthalmic evaluation and obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing all current eye conditions causing visual impairment.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of myopic degeneration and has determined that there is at least equipoise evidence in favor of a relationship between the condition and his military service. Service connection is therefore granted.
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