The Veteran seeks service connection for subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane of the right eye, claimed as status post photodynamic therapy. The VA examiner determined that this condition is related to his aging macular degeneration and not to his diabetes mellitus type II.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's legal blindness, choroidal neovascular membrane in both eyes, and/or macular degeneration are aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane of the right eye, status post photodynamic therapy
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 19, 2010
- Citation
- 1026853
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 1026853.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, claimed as subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane of the right eye, status post photodynamic therapy, was not present during active service and is not etiologically related to active service. The Board also determined that it is not proximately due to or the result of service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right shoulder disability and migraines/chronic headaches are remanded for additional development due to insufficient opinions on the etiology of her conditions.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine arthritis is aggravated by his service-connected bilateral knee disabilities, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service connected due to his fear of hostile military activity during his Vietnam service.
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