The Veteran's additional left eye disability of a lamellar macular hole with decreased vision is found to be caused by an unforeseen event during VA hospitalization, surgical, or medical treatment in February 2002. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence supports this finding.
The deciding factor: The Veteran underwent cataract surgery and vitrectomy at a VA facility which resulted in complications such as cystoid macular edema and a lamellar macular hole, an unforeseen outcome not reasonably foreseeable by a reasonable health care provider.
- Claimed conditions
- lamellar macular hole, cystoid macular edema
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0914666
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 0914666.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his right eye disability, as the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that VA care caused his blindness in his left eye.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial compensable rating for left eye conditions and service connection, to include on a secondary basis, for any other eye disorder. The VA must obtain all relevant medical records and provide an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of diagnosed eye disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination regarding whether any additional left eye disability was a reasonably foreseeable outcome of the treatment received, including due to the 2012 left eye surgery.
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