The Board denied service connection for an eye disability and found that the Veteran's degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 40% rating, but not higher. The decision also noted there were no incapacitating episodes or other evidence supporting a higher rating.
The deciding factor: There was insufficient medical evidence to establish a direct service connection for an eye disability and the Veteran did not experience any incapacitating episodes of intervertebral disc syndrome that would warrant a higher evaluation under Diagnostic Code 5243.
- Claimed conditions
- eye disability, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 15, 2013
- Citation
- 1316060
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 1316060.
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 Veteran's hypertension, left knee patellofemoral syndrome, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been granted service connection as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The lumbar spine disability has also been granted but the effective date is not specified.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for headaches, an eye disability, a respiratory disability (including allergic rhinitis and bronchitis), and a skin disability (porphyria cutanea tarda) as there is insufficient evidence to support these claims.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), low back disability, neck (also claimed as upper back) disability, and eye disability are all denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
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