The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left eye blindness and granted it, finding that his pre-existing condition worsened during military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence of a preexisting condition but not sufficient to rebut the presumption of aggravation due to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Left Eye Blindness
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2002
- Citation
- 0216560
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 0216560.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the July 2010 rating decision is not final and therefore, the Veteran's claim to reverse or revise the decision on CUE grounds is dismissed. The issues of whether the reduction was proper and for an effective date prior to January 28, 2013 are remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 28, 2013 for a 100% disability rating for bilateral eye disability is denied. The evidence from January 28, 2012 to January 27, 2013 does not show any increase in disability that would warrant an earlier effective date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury and remanded the issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye blindness as a result of surgery performed by VA in October 2008.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left and right eye blindness is a result of VA medical care, specifically an April 9, 2009 surgery, which failed to diagnose glaucoma in his left eye and a retinal vein occlusion in his right eye. The delay in diagnosis contributed to the poor visual outcome.
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.