The Board denied service connection for refractive error and bilateral pseudophakia as there was no evidence of a disease or injury incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records did not show any cataracts or pseudophakia during the Veteran's service, and the gap between service and the onset of these conditions is significant.
- Claimed conditions
- Refractive error, Bilateral pseudophakia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18136087
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 18136087.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia, cystoid Macular edema, right eye, and macular pucker, right eye were rated at 30 percent due to visual impairment. The evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes or other issues warranting a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye disorder, including vision loss, is denied as refractive error of the eyes is not considered a disability for which service connection can be granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right eye disability, including a corneal abrasion from service and current conditions like refractive error, presbyopia, mild cataracts, and blepharitis, is being remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the service connection issue.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral eye disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic retinopathy. The decision is based on medical opinions that attribute the Veteran's current eye disabilities to his service-connected DM and diabetic retinopathy.
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