The Veteran's right eye disability, characterized by photophobia and corneal scar, has been rated at 10 percent since July 1992. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his symptoms do not preclude him from working or driving during any time of day.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right eye disability results in photophobia and corneal scar, which causes over-sensitivity to light resulting in redness, watering, pain, and irritation. The VA examinations have confirmed that the Veteran requires dark glasses during the day and has difficulty seeing or driving at night due to headlights. However, his symptoms do not prevent him from working or driving during any time of day.
- Claimed conditions
- photophobia, corneal scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 13, 2010
- Citation
- 1026035
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1026035.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of photophobia to obtain a new VA opinion that adequately addresses its etiology, including whether it is related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric condition.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for headaches and photophobia, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or a link to military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, finding that the evidence did not support a compensable disability rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for panic disorder/obsessive compulsive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome/functional abdominal pain syndrome/abdominal pain & bloating, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sleep apnea, photophobia, tinnitus, and tremors of the hands.
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