The Veteran's service-connected left eye macular degeneration, rated at 70 percent disabling since June 21, 2011, has rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the effect of his visual disability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected left eye macular degeneration is rated at 70 percent disabling since June 21, 2011, and has rendered him legally blind, precluding him from obtaining or engaging in substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye macular degeneration
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 5, 2018
- Citation
- 1800593
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 1800593.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 Veteran's initial compensable rating for headaches and his claim for TDIU from August 31, 2011, to February 20, 2018 are both remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral eye disability is related to service-connected conditions or presumed herbicide exposure. The case will be returned for further development and consideration.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for right eye vision loss as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and the Veteran does not have a history of right eye symptoms or impairment.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete medical opinions and need for additional evidence. The Veteran's left eye cataracts are being reviewed, as is his claim for SMC benefits and Chapter 35 DEA benefits.
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