The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's left eye glaucoma is etiologically related to his active duty service or caused by, alternatively aggravated, by his service-connected TBI and/or service-connected right eye disability.
The deciding factor: The remand was based on an inadequate February 2015 VA medical opinion that did not address the issue of secondary service connection for left eye glaucoma.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye glaucoma, service-connected TBI, service-connected right eye disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1735664
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1735664.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for depression, insomnia, diabetes mellitus type II, left eye glaucoma, and right eye glaucoma due to duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's service records indicate exposure to burn pits during his Southwest theater of operations.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for left eye glaucoma, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for left eye glaucoma and denied increased ratings for an acquired psychiatric disorder, left knee surgical scars. The claims for increased ratings for left knee degenerative arthritis and status post reconstructive surgery, as well as for bilateral hearing loss, were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the matter for a new VA opinion to address in-service symptoms and whether any non-refractive eye condition or superimposed disease or injury is present.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.