The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the left eye from cataract surgery and/or eye drops, but his claim has been remanded due to the need for a VA eye examination.
The deciding factor: The case was remanded because the veteran's current vision problems are attributed to cataract surgery in 1986 and being prescribed the wrong eye drops during treatment. The AOJ needs to order an eye examination to determine if the complications were due to VA fault or an event not reasonably foreseeable.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye cataract, retinal tear, corneal transplant
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2005
- Citation
- 0534333
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 0534333.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, including right eye pseudophakia with retinal tear and vitreous hemorrhage, and left eye cataract, finding that there was not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for a retinal tear as there was no evidence of impaired visual acuity or incapacitating episodes.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of left eye post-retinal detachment, to include left eye retinal scarring, left eye maculopathy, and left eye cataract.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left eye cataract, heart disability, hypertension, bilateral peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, and bilateral hand disability (neuropathy and/or carpal tunnel syndrome), due to duty-to-assist errors.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.