The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa due to new and material evidence submitted since the July 1989 denial. A VA ophthalmologist will be requested to provide an opinion on whether it is likely, unlikely, or as likely as not that the onset of the veteran's retinitis pigmentosa occurred during his period of service from May 1966 to March 1970.
The deciding factor: The new evidence submitted since the July 1989 denial includes a statement from a private physician who opined that the veteran's retinitis pigmentosa 'probably began... about the age of 20 or 25.' This suggests an inservice onset, which is material to the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- retinitis pigmentosa
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 8, 2001
- Citation
- 0103947
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 0103947.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
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