The Veteran's left eye disability was not caused by VA medical procedures, treatment, or surgery. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any additional disability incurred due to VA care is compensable under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's left eye disability was caused by his own diabetic retinopathy, which developed prior to and independent of any VA medical procedures or treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye leaking blood vessels (proliferative diabetic retinopathy), vitreous hemorrhage, left eye dense white cataract
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 25, 2015
- Citation
- 1541625
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 1541625.
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 a duty-to-assist error, requiring an examination for the Veteran's left eye condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability and benign prostatic hypertrophy (claimed as prostate cancer) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The claims are being returned for further development.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye cataract status post-surgery and complicated by vitreous hemorrhage and resolved glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's additional disability was not proximately caused by VA negligence.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's left eye disability is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a list of equipment used during his cataract surgery.
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