The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for an eye impairment to include optic nerve atrophy due to new and material evidence submitted since the May 1983 rating decision.
The deciding factor: The new evidence includes a VA ophthalmologist's opinion that the veteran had optic nerve atrophy in his left eye, as well as a VHA physician's opinion suggesting an alternate service-related cause for the condition. This evidence is considered sufficient to reopen the claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Optic nerve atrophy
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2003
- Citation
- 0303044
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 386 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0303044.
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
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the August 2021 VA opinion is inadequate and remands the case for an addendum opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral eye disorder.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's daughter, A.S., was found to be permanently incapable of self-support prior to her 18th birthday due to various disabilities and is therefore recognized as a helpless child for VA benefits.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's eye disability, as his defective vision and colorblindness were noted at entrance but improved by discharge. The Board also found no competent evidence linking any current acquired eye disorders to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
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