The Board has restored a separate, protected 10% rating for bilateral conjunctivitis but denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected blepharoconjunctivitis with chronic lid changes.
The deciding factor: The RO assigned the current 20% rating based on ectropion and did not consider the original 10% rating for conjunctivitis under 38 C.F.R. § 3.951(b).
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Conjunctivitis, Blepharoconjunctivitis with chronic lid changes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 23, 2012
- Citation
- 1236684
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 1236684.
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: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and MDD, as well as a bilateral eye disability. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible reports of in-service events and ongoing medical treatment.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral conjunctivitis with a history of dry eye syndrome is rated at 10 percent from March 4, 2019. A separate and compensable rating of 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to increased ratings for IVDS remains pending.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including generalized anxiety disorder with insomnia, migraine headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, and bilateral conjunctivitis, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hand and left foot disabilities, as these issues are related to his service-connected Reiter's Syndrome. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for his service-connected conjunctivitis and photophobia with iritis and uveitis.
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