The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date than March 6, 2018 for a grant of service connection for left eye diabetic retinopathy. The right eye disability issue is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider the merits of an earlier effective date because it was not properly on appeal before the Board.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye diabetic retinopathy, right eye pseudophakia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20021789
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 20021789.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and related conditions, including diabetic nephropathy, bilateral upper extremity neuropathies, and lower extremity neuropathies is granted effective August 10, 2022.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, type II, left eye diabetic retinopathy, left foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, right foot diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and coronary artery disease, as well as the Veteran's cause of death.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a low back disability, but remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions, as well as obstructive sleep apnea and the Veteran's cause of death.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an eye disability to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the diagnosed conditions, including whether they are related to the appellant's active duty service.
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