The Board has determined that the effective date for service connection of bilateral photophobia should be March 13, 2001. The Veteran's claim was filed on this date and he expressed his intent to seek benefits related to his condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's March 13, 2001 statement demonstrated his belief in entitlement to a benefit based on his photophobia and indicated an intention to file for service connection. The Court found that the initial claim form did not constitute an informal claim for service connection for photophobia until this date.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral photophobia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 29, 2012
- Citation
- 1207666
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 1207666.
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 Veteran's bilateral photophobia and TBI with depression have been granted service connection, and the rating for TBI with depression has been increased to 70 percent. The issues of a compensable rating for tension headaches and entitlement to TDIU are being remanded.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a disability of the eyes, other than bilateral photophobia, as there was no evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's eye conditions and his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation throughout the appeal period.
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