The Board found that the veteran's macular degeneration of the eyes did not begin during service and is not otherwise attributable to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.
The deciding factor: There was no medical evidence linking the current macular degeneration to service.
- Claimed conditions
- macular degeneration of the eyes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2002
- Citation
- 0216820
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 0216820.
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: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for macular degeneration of the eyes and an initial rating higher than 10 percent for tinnitus. The issues of service connection for psoriasis, an acquired psychiatric condition (to include PTSD), increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for right and left knee disabilities were remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's macular degeneration of the eyes is related to his in-service exposure to intense sunlight without eye protection, and service connection for this condition is granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his disabilities, particularly those related to vision impairment.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for macular degeneration of the eyes, to include as secondary to service-connected malaria or medication for malaria in a September 8, 1964 decision. The veteran is seeking revision on grounds of clear and unmistakable error (CUE).
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