The Veteran's service-connected optic neuropathy needs to be re-evaluated due to conflicting findings from previous examinations. A new examination is required to determine the current severity of his condition.
The deciding factor: Conflicting findings from previous VA examinations regarding the presence of scotomas necessitate a new evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Optic neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19148554
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,341 · Granted: 33% (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 19148554.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's vision loss disability, diagnosed as optic neuropathy, was incurred during service and grants service connection for this condition.
- Granted
The Veteran's optic neuropathy with bilateral central scotomas is granted a 20 percent rating. The Veteran is also granted Individual Unemployability (TDIU).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and optic neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his service or service-connected condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for optic neuropathy and cirrhosis of the liver, but has remanded the left knee disorder issue due to lack of a VA examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.