The Veteran is blind in the left eye due to a cataract surgery performed by VA on October 11, 2001. The Board finds that the VA surgeon deviated from reasonable standard of care by not immediately referring the Veteran to a retinal specialist as soon as possible after the surgery.
The deciding factor: The VA surgeon did not refer the Veteran to a retinal specialist promptly after identifying debris left in his eye during the cataract surgery, which was considered a deviation from the standard of care.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye blindness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0946291
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 0946291.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's left eye injury, claimed as blindness, finding that it had its onset in service and is related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's appeal of VA withholding his disability compensation benefits to offset a $600,000 tort settlement. The decision found that the withholding was proper under law.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the appellant's disability of the left eye, to include loss of vision, finding that there is an approximate balance of negative and positive evidence regarding whether the VA's negligence caused the disability.
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