The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral eye condition, diagnosed as chronic conjunctivitis and tear film insufficiency, is related to service. The evidence is in relative equipoise regarding whether the Veteran’s current bilateral eye condition had its onset in service.
The deciding factor: The lay testimony of the Veteran and his parents established a continuity of symptoms since service, which was supported by the VA examiner's opinion linking the current conjunctivitis to service-related conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic conjunctivitis, tear film insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19125939
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.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 10 percent rating for symptoms analogous to chronic conjunctivitis and scarring and disfigurement attributable to bilateral pinguecula, effective January 29, 2025.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for heart palpitations, bruxism, and bilateral dry eye, while denying service connection for the other conditions.
- Denied
The appeal for a higher disability rating for chronic conjunctivitis was denied because the veteran is already receiving the maximum available rating of 10 percent.
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