The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's light sensitivity is related to his service, as it may be separate from his service-connected migraine headaches and pinguecula.
The deciding factor: The examiner needs to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran’s light sensitivity is caused by or related to his active service, including any possible connection to his service-connected conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- light sensitivity, photophobia, pterygium, pinguecula
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003467
Veterans Law Judge
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 20003467.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder, photophobia, and headaches are being remanded due to the need to obtain Social Security Administration records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, specifically failing to obtain an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current bilateral eye disability is related to service exposure to burn pits. The AOJ should obtain such an opinion.
- Granted
Service connection is granted for dry eye syndrome, photophobia, and right knee PFPS. Service connection for right shoulder strain and left shoulder strain is remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the claims as there was no valid appeal to review.
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