The Board denied compensation for loss of vision due to left eye cataract surgery conducted by a private medical provider, finding that the event was not reasonably foreseeable and thus did not meet the criteria for VA negligence under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.
The deciding factor: The Board found no proximate cause between VA medical care and the worsening left eye vision following the October 2004 cataract surgery conducted at a non-VA facility, concluding that any additional disability was not reasonably foreseeable.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye cataract, epiretinal membrane
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 31, 2020
- Citation
- 20022261
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 20022261.
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 bilateral eye disability, including right eye pseudophakia with retinal tear and vitreous hemorrhage, and left eye cataract, finding that there was not an approximate balance of positive and negative evidence to support the claim.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's bilateral diabetic retinopathy with bilateral pseudophakia and epiretinal membrane is rated at 20 percent effective September 10, 2021. The appeal for a separate rating prior to this date and service connection for pancreatitis are remanded.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted service connection for residuals of left eye post-retinal detachment, to include left eye retinal scarring, left eye maculopathy, and left eye cataract.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including left eye cataract, heart disability, hypertension, bilateral peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, and bilateral hand disability (neuropathy and/or carpal tunnel syndrome), due to duty-to-assist errors.
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