The Board has found that the denial of service connection for left eye cataracts was based on inadequate rationale and procedural errors. The case is being remanded to obtain a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's left eye cataracts, including whether they are due to injury in service or complications of diabetes.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the previous denial of service connection for left eye cataracts was based on inadequate rationale and procedural errors, specifically related to the implicit determination of service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. A new medical opinion is needed to address this issue.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye cataracts
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20052936
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 20052936.
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 Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for his service-connected right eye pseudophakia with stage I macular hole and left eye cataracts, maintaining the 40 percent evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left eye cataracts and his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, as well as the potential aggravation of these conditions. The examiner must consider all toxic exposure risk activities (TERA), including herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for anxiety and mood swings, PTSD, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, heart disorder, erectile dysfunction, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sinusitis and rhinitis, right eye cataracts, left eye cataracts, right knee disorder, and left knee disorder. The Board found no in-service psychological injury or event leading to the current disabilities.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service.
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