The Veteran's hypertensive retinopathy, which manifests with visual acuity of 20/50 in each eye and corrected near vision of 20/25 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye, is rated as noncompensable under DC 6006. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's visual acuity does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 20 percent under any applicable diagnostic code.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertensive Retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 1, 2011
- Citation
- 1140578
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1140578.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 Veteran's appeal is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a TDIU from March 25, 2013 to July 3, 2013 due to his service-connected disabilities. The appeal also failed to establish entitlement to SMC prior to February 11, 2021.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine current disability levels.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for retinopathy as secondary to hypertension has been granted.,However, the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and osteopenia as secondary to hypertension have been denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma and hypertensive retinopathy have been rated at 20 percent since March 9, 2019. The rating is granted as the condition has resulted in visual acuity of 20/40 or better bilaterally.
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