The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not fully address the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disorder and coronary artery disease. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions addressing the relationship between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service, including any in-service exposure.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the VA examinations did not adequately consider the Veteran's in-service complaints of burning eyes and blurred vision, as well as his documented exposure to U/V light during service. The opinions also failed to address whether the Veteran's current conditions were aggravated by pre-existing conditions or due to any in-service events.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Eye Disorder (including cataracts, arcus senilis, pinguecula), Refractive error
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19174648
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19174648.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service connection claim for a bilateral eye disorder, including vision loss, is denied as refractive error of the eyes is not considered a disability for which service connection can be granted.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's right eye disability, including a corneal abrasion from service and current conditions like refractive error, presbyopia, mild cataracts, and blepharitis, is being remanded for further evaluation. The TDIU claim is also remanded due to its interdependence with the service connection issue.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's eye condition and his service-connected conditions, including vasovagal syndrome and atypical migraine headaches.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for refractive error as a bilateral eye condition due to insufficient medical opinions and failure to address the Veteran's lay contentions. The Veteran served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, but his current vision problems are not considered related to active service.
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.