The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed eye conditions are not related to his military service or his service-connected diabetes. The low back disability, metatarsalgia, hearing loss, and tinnitus have also been denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners could not provide a nexus opinion without resorting to speculation due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service or any other known causes.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral optic neuropathy, Decreased vision, Eye diseases
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 15, 2014
- Citation
- 1441097
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 1441097.
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: Denied
The Board denied service connection for auditory neuropathy, bilateral optic neuropathy, vestibular disorder including BPPV and Meniere's disease, and inner back neuropathy due to the lack of diagnosed conditions during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for herpes zoster and its residuals, including iritis, keratoconjunctivitis, uveitis, left eye pain, decreased vision, dry eye, episcleritis, astigmatism, myopia, left eyelid changes, and left eye glaucoma is granted. The Veteran's right and left wrist disability claim is denied. The Veteran's residuals of heat-related injury claim is denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional evidentiary development, including a VA SMP aid and attendance/housebound examination. The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound will be assessed based on his current disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's current eye disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board found no competent evidence linking the Veteran's decreased vision to his in-service symptoms and determined that there is no continuity of symptomatology since his active service.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.