The Veteran's left eye disability, including blindness and problems with eyesight, is due to a lack of skill in performing cataract surgery by VA providers. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 has been granted.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the finding that the Veteran's left eye disability resulted from the VA provider's lack of skill during the cataract surgery, which caused a Descemet’s membrane detachment and subsequent complications.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye cataract, left eye blindness/problems with eyesight
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20055605
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 20055605.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 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.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's left eye cataract surgery is not service-connected, and therefore, he cannot receive a temporary total evaluation based on convalescence.
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