The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for entitlement to service connection for a right eye cataract and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the current residuals of the right eye cataract and his active military service.
The deciding factor: The April 2014 opinion from a private optometrist established a nexus between the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic substances and the development of a right eye cataract, which is now causing visual impairments. The Board found this opinion credible and persuasive.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Eye Cataract
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 20, 2014
- Citation
- 1437184
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1437184.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's right eye cataract results in impaired visual acuity to no worse than 20/40 corrected distance bilaterally, without other significant symptoms. The disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right eye disability is rated at 50% effective from September 17, 2019. The issue of entitlement to a higher rating prior to this date remains pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The effective date for this grant is January 28, 2016.,Service connection for headaches has been remanded as there is no indication that a formal or informal claim was filed prior to January 28, 2016.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for breast cancer and diabetes mellitus, type 2 are remanded due to potential exposure to asbestos during service. Addendum opinions will be obtained regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.,Service connection for a right eye cataract is remanded as there is no indication of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.,Service connection for a heart disability, hypertension, and neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities are all remanded. Addendum opinions will be obtained regarding these conditions.,Service connection for headaches remains remanded due to insufficient evidence on record.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities is remanded as there is no indication of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 is remanded as there is no indication of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 30 percent for headaches remains remanded.
- Denied
The Veteran's right eye condition was not found to be caused by VA treatment, and the Board determined that no additional disability resulted from the carelessness or negligence of VA.
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