The Veteran's chronic bilateral eye photophobia and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy are granted service connection. His hypertension is denied, as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year after his service. The reduction in rating for the upper lumbar spine disability from 60 percent to 20 percent was proper, but the discontinuation of TDIU based on this rating change is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's chronic bilateral eye photophobia and right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy are directly related to his active service. His hypertension does not have a direct link to his service or any service-connected condition. The reduction in the rating for the upper lumbar spine disability was proper, but the discontinuation of TDIU based on this change is denied.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic bilateral eye photophobia, hypertension, right upper extremity ulnar neuropathy, upper lumbar spine disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- April 30, 2019
- Citation
- 19133429
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,050 · Granted: 23% (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 19133429.
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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