The Board denied service connection for a right eye disability and an increased rating for left knee disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners concluded that the Veteran's pre-existing right eye condition clearly and unmistakably existed prior to his military service and was not aggravated during service. The corneal scar in the right eye is presumed to have occurred after service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Eye Traumatic Macular Degeneration, Corneal Scar
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 8, 2016
- Citation
- 1609343
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 1609343.
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 Veteran's right eye disability is rated at 30 percent, and a separate 10 percent rating for corneal scar has been granted. The claim for TDIU was denied as the service-connected disabilities do not preclude the Veteran from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has ordered remand for further development and examination of the Veteran's claims, including his eye disability, cervical spine disability, tachycardia, PTSD rating, and TDIU.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for residuals of a left eye injury, including corneal scars, has been granted. A separate compensable rating is also granted for the corneal scar.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable rating for the service-connected corneal scar of the left eye, finding that since October 17, 2008, the disability has not met the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
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