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 assigned
- 70%
- 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1800593.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.