The Veteran's Fuchs dystrophy and keratoconus have been rated based on their impact on visual acuity. The initial rating of 10% was granted in October 2009, followed by a subsequent increase to 30% effective October 18, 2018. The appeal for higher ratings remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's visual impairment has not improved enough to warrant an increased rating beyond the current assigned levels.
- Claimed conditions
- Fuchs Dystrophy, Keratoconus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19190541
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (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 19190541.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's right eye conjunctivitis with keratoconus status post corneal transplant from February 1, 2018 is rated at 30 percent and no higher due to the severity of his visual acuity impairment.
- Denied
The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left eye injury due to VA cataract surgery in September 2011, finding that the Veteran's decreased visual acuity was not caused by the surgery but rather by his pre-existing Fuchs Dystrophy and diabetic retinopathy.
- Granted
The Veteran's keratoconus is granted a 10 percent rating effective March 4, 2016. His bilateral hearing loss remains noncompensable.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for bilateral keratoconus from March 16, 2017 to June 18, 2019. The appeal is remanded for further action on the increased ratings and TDIU issues.
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