The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting retinitis pigmentosa was aggravated by active service, and therefore, service connection is granted.
The deciding factor: VA failed to meet its burden of showing by clear and unmistakable evidence that the veteran's retinitis pigmentosa did not undergo permanent increase in severity beyond natural progression during service.
- Claimed conditions
- retinitis pigmentosa
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2006
- Citation
- 0606648
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 3, 2001, for service connection for retinitis pigmentosa based on the re-evaluation of previously unassociated service treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to conflicting opinions regarding whether retinitis pigmentosa is a congenital defect or disease. Additional development, including an addendum opinion from the VA examiner, is needed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorders, including retinitis pigmentosa and cataracts, had their onset during service or are otherwise related to his military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for retinitis pigmentosa and denied service connection for a heart condition. The Veteran's current bilateral eye retinitis pigmentosa is considered to have been incurred in service, with the presumption of soundness rebutted due to aggravation during service.
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