The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disability, finding that there is no competent and credible evidence of an eye disability in service or linking it to an in-service injury.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran’s right eye condition is less likely than not the result of an MVA during active service and questioned the validity of his visual field loss test results.
- Claimed conditions
- visual field defect, right optic nerve atrophy, right pterygium
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20020631
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 20020631.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a visual field defect and/or degenerative retinal drunsens/senile macular degeneration, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions and denied higher initial ratings for several service-connected disabilities.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than October 14, 2009 and a higher initial rating for dry eyes with visual field defect were denied. The Board found that the earliest effective date possible was October 14, 2009, as it is the date of claim. The Veteran did not have incapacitating episodes or other conditions warranting a higher initial rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's application for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities that affect his mobility and require a wheelchair and assistive devices.
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