The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for service-connected right eye refractive error is being remanded due to the need for a proper VA examination by an ophthalmologist.
The deciding factor: The previous examinations were conducted by optometrists, which did not comply with the Board's directive for a physician and ophthalmologist.
- Claimed conditions
- right eye refractive error
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1751791
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 1751791.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for right and left eye refractive errors. It granted an earlier effective date of September 21, 2017, for a 10 percent increased disability rating for the left wrist but denied further increases. The Board also granted a 70 percent increased disability rating for PTSD from January 22, 2017, to January 22, 2018, but denied further increases. Additionally, it granted a 20 percent disability rating for left lower extremity radiculopathy from July 23, 2024.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for right eye cataract and refractive error should be remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye refractive error and right eye refractive error. The Board granted service connection for memory loss, which is caused by service-connected obstructive sleep apnea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for increased ratings and service connection has been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The right eye corneal scar remains noncompensable, while the right eye refractive error claim was reopened but no new rating is assigned yet.
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