The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye retinopathy is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of diabetic retinopathy and concluded that the Veteran's left eye retinopathy was less likely than not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 19, 2014
- Citation
- 1456010
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 1456010.
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 effective date for increased ratings of left eye retinopathy, diabetes mellitus, and right upper extremity neuropathy was granted as of October 28, 2017.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and initial disability ratings related to his low back disability, left eye retinopathy, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction (ED), left sciatic diabetic neuropathy, right sciatic diabetic neuropathy, and cellulitis. The claims were remanded for further examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure, as well as peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower and upper extremities and left eye retinopathy. The Board found no evidence of herbicide agent exposure in Thailand and thus could not establish presumptive service connection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board's decision is vacated and the claims for increased ratings, separate compensable ratings, and TDIU are remanded due to lack of consideration of all relevant evidence.
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