The Board found that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between the Veteran's current eye disorders and his service, including an infection during service. The most probative medical opinions concluded that any connection is less likely than not related to service.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions were provided based on the absence of symptoms, diagnoses or treatment for eye conditions during active service, and the lack of evidence supporting a direct relationship between current eye disorders and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Eye Disorder (including residuals of an infection of the eyes), Chorioretinal scar, Dry Eye Syndrome, Presbyopia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2018
- Citation
- 1806346
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 1806346.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date for a 70 percent evaluation for bilateral glaucoma to include dry eye syndrome, beginning August 31, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, while denying service connection for hypertension, a left arm disability, a left lower extremity neurological disability, a right lower extremity neurological disability, and left knee pain. The Board also granted ratings of 70%, 10%, and 30% for posttraumatic stress disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, dry eye syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, respectively.
- Dismissed
The appeal for restoration of a 60 percent rating for skin disabilities and the appeals for service connection for back disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, increased evaluation for PTSD, and increased evaluation for dry eye syndrome were dismissed. The appeals for service connection for ED (secondary to PTSD), bilateral foot disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as TDIU effective February 21, 2024.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective February 21, 2024.,An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,A higher rating of hypertension is denied.
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