The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral keratoconus and status post C5-C6 diskectomy and fusion with degenerative disc disease at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. The veteran was granted service connection but not awarded higher disability ratings.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the veteran's visual acuity did not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his stable keratoconus condition, and the nature and severity of his degenerative disc disease did not warrant an increased rating under the applicable regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral keratoconus, status post C5-C6 diskectomy and fusion with degenerative disc disease at C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- April 14, 2004
- Citation
- 0409661
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0409661.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral keratoconus, but remanded the claim for right ankle tendonitis.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the claim for service connection for cellulitis and remanded claims for allergic rhinitis, eczema, bilateral keratoconus, sinusitis, and knee conditions due to incomplete records and need for further development.
- Granted
The veteran is granted an initial 20 percent rating for chronic allergic conjunctivitis with bilateral blepharitis, bilateral dry eye syndrome, and bilateral keratoconus. Additionally, a separate initial 10 percent rating is granted for decreased visual acuity due to bilateral keratoconus.
- Denied
The Board denied the appeal, finding that the severance of service connection for bilateral keratoconus was proper due to an erroneous factual finding.
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