The Board found that the Veteran's current left eye disorders, including traumatic cataracts and tears in the retina, were not incurred during service or due to any incident related to his military service. The VA examiner concluded that these conditions are less likely than not caused by an alleged injury sustained during active duty.
The deciding factor: The April 2010 VA examiner opined that the Veteran's left eye disorders are less likely than not due to any in-service injury, citing a notation from his June 1995 VA treatment record indicating a golf ball injury as more probable cause.
- Claimed conditions
- traumatic cataract, tears in the retina
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 8, 2010
- Citation
- 1033686
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 1033686.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's left eye disability, which includes pseudophakia, traumatic cataract, and retinal detachment with scleral buckle, is rated at a 30 percent disability level since September 4, 2022.
- Denied
The Veteran's left eye disability, which includes choroidal rupture and traumatic cataract, is rated at 40 percent. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of this has been denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right eye disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a left eye injury was denied as the earliest possible effective date is February 4, 1981, when he filed his initial claim.
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