The VA determined that the veteran's pterygium of the left eye, which was removed during service, does not currently cause any loss of vision or functional impairment warranting a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The most recent examination found no loss of visual acuity in the affected eye and attributed current symptoms to poor eyelid hygiene rather than residuals from the pterygium removal.
- Claimed conditions
- pterygium
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 25, 2006
- Citation
- 0602174
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.
- Dismissed
The claim for a compensable rating for dry eye syndrome was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The Board will remand the service connection claim for an eye disorder, including corneal ulcer, pterygium, pinguecula, retinal fibrosis, arcus senilis, anterior toxic cortical cataract, superficial punctate keratitis (SPK), and visual field constriction.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of pterygium to schedule a VA examination and obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating before September 2021 was denied, but a separate 10% rating for chorioretinal scars was granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, finding that there is no probative and competent medical evidence linking his current eye disorders to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
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.