The Veteran's service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus are found to be the primary causes of his diagnosed eye conditions. Service connection is granted for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy and bilateral diabetic retinopathy, but not for nuclear sclerotic cataracts, keratitis sicca, and conjunctivochalasis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's current eye conditions are due to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus, which is considered a secondary relationship under VA law.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, bilateral diabetic retinopathy, nuclear sclerotic cataracts, keratitis sicca, and conjunctivochalasis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 15, 2019
- Citation
- 19154660
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 19154660.
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's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, hypertensive retinopathy, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia, unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration, dry eye syndrome, presence of intraocular lens, old branch retinal vein occlusion, and bilateral pinguecula.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision impairment, bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, glaucoma, and pseudophakia is remanded due to the need for additional development related to toxic exposure during service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for painful scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access and scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access have been granted with effective dates of April 18, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy has been granted with an effective date of June 9, 2015. The Board found that the earliest diagnosis was on this date and thus is the effective date.,The Veteran's claim for cerebellar stroke has been granted with an effective date of March 18, 2022.
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