The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis with macular lesions of both eyes is denied. The Board found that the earliest date entitlement could arise was November 3, 2009, when the Veteran filed a petition to reopen his previously denied claim.
The deciding factor: The effective date cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the application to reopen (November 3, 2009), as the prior denial of service connection for histoplasmosis was final in November 1985. The Veteran's contentions regarding medical records do not constitute a request to reopen his claim.
- Claimed conditions
- ocular histoplasmosis, macular lesions
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1512022
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1512022.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to missing treatment records and an incomplete statement of reasons or bases. The Veteran's vision impairment, including loss of visual acuity and visual field loss, is being evaluated for its relationship to ocular histoplasmosis.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral ocular histoplasmosis originated during active service and is therefore granted service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for bilateral ocular histoplasmosis, finding that there is a reasonable possibility that the condition was caused by an in-service respiratory infection.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the previously denied claims of service connection for ocular histoplasmosis and a lung condition, now claimed as a residual of histoplosis. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.
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