The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected anatomical loss of the right eye does not render him unemployable due to his inability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
The deciding factor: VA found that the veteran, despite having one service-connected disability (anatomical loss of the right eye), was able to perform his job as a mail clerk until he retired in 1999 due to non-service connected conditions. His education level and previous work experience did not prevent him from securing gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Anatomical loss of the right eye
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 16, 2003
- Citation
- 0335346
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 0335346.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the current severity of his PTSD and anatomical loss of the right eye. The issues of entitlement to a rating in excess of 50 percent for both conditions are being addressed.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for headaches, as secondary to the service-connected anatomical loss of the right eye disability. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with an opinion on whether the headaches are aggravated by the service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's anatomical loss of the right eye is currently rated at 40 percent, and a higher rating is not warranted as his remaining left eye visual acuity has never been worse than 20/40.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board finds that the service-connected arthritis of the knees and anatomical loss of the right eye contributed to the Veteran's fall, which resulted in his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.
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