The Board found that the Veteran's epiphora and facial disfigurement and numbness are not as likely as not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The events were considered reasonably foreseeable.
The deciding factor: VA medical records indicate no evidence of fault on the part of VA in providing the surgeries, and both conditions (epiphora and facial disfigurement/numbness) are known risks associated with the procedures performed.
- Claimed conditions
- epiphora, facial disfigurement and numbness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2016
- Citation
- 1639740
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 1639740.
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 remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, including conjunctivitis and other diagnosed conditions such as refractive amblyopia, Meibomian gland dysfunction, cataracts, epiphora, left myopic macular degeneration, and pinguecula. The AOJ is instructed to obtain etiology opinions regarding the Veteran's diagnosed eye disabilities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examination and opinion regarding service connection for conjunctivitis, bilateral watering eyes (epiphora), and their relationship to service-connected rhinitis and/or pinguecula.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eye disabilities are remanded for a new VA medical opinion to determine if they are related to her active service, including the 1987 personal assault.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with previous requests for additional development. The Veteran's left eye disability is being reviewed again as there was not a thorough opinion on its etiology.
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