The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for defective vision and a cataract of the right eye, finding that there was no evidence of a traumatic injury to the right eye during service and concluding that any cataract present at separation was congenital in origin.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence showed that any cataract present at separation was congenital in origin and not related to service, and there was no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury for refractive error of the eyes.
- Claimed conditions
- Defective vision, Cataract of the right eye
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2002
- Citation
- 0206242
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 0206242.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's defective vision, diagnosed as age-related macular degeneration, is not related to his service or any service-connected conditions. Therefore, service connection for defective vision is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's SMC at the housebound rate should be restored due to a lack of proper coding in his previous rating decision. However, the claim is being remanded for further development as it also involves defective vision and whether the Veteran is substantially confined to his dwelling and immediate premises.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for defective vision has been reopened, and service connection is granted.,Service connection is granted for a depressive disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus, and nephropathy proximately due to diabetes mellitus. Service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes is denied.,Issues related to sleep apnea, bilateral eye disabilities, and TDIU are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's defective vision, secondary to a fracture of the frontal skull and bilateral orbit, is currently rated as 20 percent disabling prior to October 2, 2005 and 30 percent thereafter. The Board has granted an increased rating to 40 percent for the period prior to October 2, 2005 and 50 percent thereafter.
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.