The Veteran's right eye conditions, including diminished visual acuity and traumatic optic neuropathy, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. Cataracts and open angle glaucoma are not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no competent evidence of aggravation of the preexisting right eye condition during service, and current conditions are not linked to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Eye Diminished Visual Acuity, Traumatic Optic Neuropathy of the Right Eye, Cataracts, Open Angle Glaucoma
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 27, 2015
- Citation
- 1531848
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 1531848.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's primary open angle glaucoma with cataracts, as well as a determination of whether he has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The case is being remanded to allow for these determinations.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected open angle glaucoma is granted an initial 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disabilities are related to service or preexisted with no superimposed injury during service. The VA must obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriately qualified examiner.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected open angle glaucoma bilateral eyes is granted an 80 percent disability rating, based on the combination of decreased visual acuity and visual field defect.
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