The Board has determined that the record is not sufficiently developed to make a decision on the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral optic nerve atrophy, including as due to herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine the date of onset and etiology of the veteran's eye disability.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there are insufficient records available to make a determination on the claim, particularly regarding the nature of optic nerve atrophy and its relationship to service or herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral optic nerve atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 18, 2008
- Citation
- 0827904
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 0827904.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 Veteran's eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy and other related conditions like bilateral end stage glaucoma, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, right nuclear cataract, and left pseudophakia, are being remanded for further evaluation due to a duty-to-assist error.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's headaches are found to be prostrating and occurring on average at least once a month after September 14, 2021. The Board grants a 30 percent rating for his headaches starting from that date. Other issues related to the right eye corneal scarring, bilateral optic nerve atrophy, and knee/hip conditions are remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral optic nerve atrophy was not incurred or aggravated during service and is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board found that the additional evidence submitted did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral optic nerve atrophy. Therefore, the claim was denied as new and material evidence had not been submitted.
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