The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, characterized by photophobia and optic atrophy, is granted an increased rating of 30 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The appeal for a higher rating in excess of 50 percent from July 1, 2016, forward is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral eye disability was found to have remaining visual fields between 31 and 45 degrees bilaterally, which meets the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6080.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral photophobia, Optic atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- March 26, 2019
- Citation
- 19121763
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,429 · Granted: 29% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19121763.
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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient clarification of the Veteran's left eye visual acuity measurements and the need for additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral chronic blepharitis with associated left eye corneal ulcers/abrasions and optic atrophy are related to his active service.
- Granted
The Veteran's right eye disorder, including decreased visual acuity and visual field deficit, was granted an increased rating to 20 percent effective from October 14, 2011. The original 10 percent rating for the right eye disorder remains in effect.
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