The Board found that the veteran's corneal ulcers of the left eye were not incurred in or related to service, specifically due to mustard gas exposure. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection.
The deciding factor: The VA specialist concluded that there was no causal relationship between the veteran's mustard gas patch test and his current left eye disorder based on the lack of full-body exposure and the seven-year interval between the patch test and the onset of corneal problems.
- Claimed conditions
- corneal ulcers
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2003
- Citation
- 0328314
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 0328314.
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
Your appeals for service connection and disability evaluations have been dismissed due to the failure to file a timely substantive appeal.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for corneal ulcers, bilateral foot disability, bilateral CTS, cervical spine disability, and right knee disability are not granted due to lack of current diagnoses. The cases have been remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. Chronic sinusitis, corneal scars, IBS, and hemorrhoids are found to be related to her active service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied a higher rating for the Veteran's Salzmann's nodular corneal dystrophy with associated lagophthalmos, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a higher rating based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes. The maximum rating under DC 6022 was already assigned.
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