The veteran's claim to reopen his previously denied claim for service connection for genetic macular degeneration, Stargardt's disease was denied because new and material evidence had not been submitted.
The deciding factor: Newly submitted evidence did not provide a reasonable possibility of substantiating the veteran's service-connection claim as it failed to link the onset of the condition to military service.
- Claimed conditions
- genetic macular degeneration, Stargardt's disease
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2008
- Citation
- 0812912
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0812912.
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 Board has determined that the VA opinion in connection with the Veteran's claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease is inadequate and requires further development. The matter is being remanded to obtain an addendum medical opinion addressing whether there is clear and unmistakable evidence that the condition pre-existed service, if so, whether it was aggravated by service, and whether it is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for Stargardt's disease to obtain a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension has aggravated his condition and whether his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam may have aggravated his hereditary Stargardt's disease.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including Stargardt's disease and anxiety disorder with depressive disorder. The SMC rate is set at 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye condition and its relationship to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for macular degeneration or blindness, but the VA examiner did not provide sufficient information on whether his condition preexisted service or was aggravated by a superimposed injury during service.
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