The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting right eye pterygium did not worsen during service, and thus he is not entitled to service connection for residuals of right eye pterygium. The left eye pterygium was unrelated to service, and there is no evidence of an undiagnosed illness related to Southwest Asia service for his bilateral knee pain.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's preexisting right eye pterygium did not worsen during service, as evidenced by the temporary or intermittent flare-ups noted in the medical records. The left eye pterygium was unrelated to service, and there is no objective evidence of a qualifying chronic disability underlying his bilateral knee pain.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Eye Pterygium, Left Eye Pterygium
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2014
- Citation
- 1417980
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 1417980.
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 claim for a higher rating for residuals of left eye pterygium removal and dry eye syndrome, left eye has been granted. The Veteran is now rated at 20 percent for the former condition and 10 percent for the latter.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's right eye pterygium resulted in decreased visual acuity and was not disfiguring. A 10 percent rating has been granted for the period prior to October 31, 2017.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's hypertension is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or within one year post-service, and the medical opinion found it unrelated to military service.,A non-compensable evaluation for the left 3rd finger scar from ganglion cyst excision was granted effective December 8, 2009. The Veteran's current evaluation is 10 percent after this date.,The Veteran's request for a higher evaluation for his left 3rd finger scar from ganglion cyst excision has been denied as the medical opinion found it unrelated to service and not more than 10 percent disabling overall.,A compensable evaluation (at least 20 percent) for the Veteran's left eye pterygium was denied.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to January 27, 2011. The Board denied the claim for TDIU based on the evidence showing that his service-connected conditions did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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