The Veteran's claims for service connection for retinopathy and dermatochalasis, as well as hypertension due to in-service Agent Orange exposure, are denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a current diagnosis of these conditions.
The deciding factor: There is no current evidence of a diagnosed eye disorder (retinopathy or dermatochalasis) and the currently-diagnosed dermatochalasis is age-related. Hypertension was found to be related to diabetes mellitus type 2, which is service-connected.
- Claimed conditions
- retinopathy, dermatochalasis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- July 21, 2016
- Citation
- 1629156
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 1629156.
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 claims for service connection were reopened and granted, with an effective date of January 11, 2008.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and will need to obtain additional private treatment records related to the Veteran's eye disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due to her testimony regarding good cause. The Veteran had pending service connection claims at the time of his death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, including cataracts, retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between her current conditions and her military service.
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