The Board denied service connection for bilateral optic atrophy and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for hepatitis C due to VA medical treatment, finding that the veteran was not on active military service during the incident.
The deciding factor: The veteran's duty status on April [redacted], 1980 was unclear, leading to a determination that he was not on active military service at the time of the accident and thus could not establish service connection for bilateral optic atrophy. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral optic atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 26, 2008
- Citation
- 0833181
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 0833181.
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: Granted
The Veteran's claim for bilateral optic atrophy was reopened and granted, with service connection established based on new evidence showing a link between in-service exposure to diesel exhaust and/or low oxygen levels and the current condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for migraines, bilateral optic atrophy, and cerebral spinal fluid leak due to insufficient examination findings in prior decisions. The Veteran's headaches, eye conditions, and CSF leak need further evaluation.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral optic atrophy is not related to his active service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him bedridden or so helpless as to require regular aid and attendance, thus his claim for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is denied.
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