The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral optic atrophy is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected postoperative herniorrhaphy scar, and thus grants the claim for service connection.
The deciding factor: The prolonged surgery for colon cancer was caused by adhesions from previous service-connected hernia repairs, leading to arrhythmias that contributed to the veteran's bilateral optic atrophy.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral optic atrophy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 13, 2003
- Citation
- 0312751
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 0312751.
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: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected bilateral optic atrophy has been determined to be the cause of his loss of central visual acuity, resulting in a rating of 100 percent.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to his fear of hostile military activity during his Vietnam service.
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