The Veteran's right eye blindness, acquired psychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety), bilateral knee osteoarthritis, bilateral hand osteoarthritis, low back disability, and neuropathy were all denied as service connection was decided on the merits. The right-hand scar was not found to be incurred in service due to willful misconduct.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's right eye blindness resulted from a motor vehicle accident during active duty but was determined to have been caused by his own willful misconduct, thus not incurred in the line of duty and therefore not service-connected. The other conditions were denied as there was no evidence linking them to service or showing they were aggravated by service.
- Claimed conditions
- Right eye blindness, Right-hand scar, Acquired psychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety), Bilateral knee osteoarthritis, Bilateral hand osteoarthritis, Low back disability, Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18139983
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 18139983.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a low back disability, residuals of a right foot injury, sinusitis, shortness of breath, allergic rhinitis, and sleep apnea as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability and arthritis, to include bilateral hips and knees, due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a low back disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, prostate disability, and kidney cancer due to inadequate medical opinions and potential outstanding VA treatment records.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a heart disability, finding no current diagnosis and that the Veteran's reported symptoms were not supported by medical evidence. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and entitlement to TDIU are remanded.
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