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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0103947.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the motion to revise a 1968 rating decision denying service connection for retinitis pigmentosa due to the Veteran's death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and retinitis pigmentosa, finding no evidence of a nexus to active service.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 3, 2001, for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa based on the re-evaluation of previously unassociated service treatment records.
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