The Board found that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and was not exposed to herbicides, thus denying service connection for his right eye disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not show he served in Vietnam or on the inland waterways of Vietnam. The VA determined there was insufficient evidence to confirm any exposure to herbicides during his service in Thailand and Korea.
- Claimed conditions
- right eye disability, blindness, severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy, chronic macular edema, ocular hypertension, decreased acuity, pseudophakia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 3, 2017
- Citation
- 1714551
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1714551.
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 duty-to-assist errors, including failing to obtain SSA records and VA medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left eye disability is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or special home adaptation, as they do not qualify for permanent and total disability due to loss of use of extremities or anatomical regions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye condition, which is presumed to be related to service. The Veteran seeks service connection for glaucoma and pseudophakia, but the VA examiners' opinions are deemed inadequate.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye condition, including nonexudative age-related macular degeneration and pseudophakia, due to exposure to environmental toxins during his military service.
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