The Board denied the reopening of the claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease due to lack of new and material evidence.
The deciding factor: The additional evidence received did not demonstrate that the veteran's preexisting Stargardt's disease was aggravated during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Stargardt's disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 8, 2002
- Citation
- 0213919
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 0213919.
What this means for you
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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 determined that the VA opinion in connection with the Veteran's claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease is inadequate and requires further development. The matter is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service, if so, whether it was aggravated by service, and whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension has aggravated his condition and whether his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam may have aggravated his hereditary Stargardt's disease.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including Stargardt's disease and anxiety disorder with depressive disorder. The SMC rate is set at 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye condition and its relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for macular degeneration or blindness, but the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information on whether his condition preexisted service or was aggravated by a superimposed injury during service.
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