The Board has remanded the case for a supplemental medical opinion regarding the Veteran's eye disorders, which were diagnosed during service and may be related to exposure to herbicide agents. The examiner is asked to provide additional rationale in support of their opinions.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to address whether the high-normal ocular tension readings in service treatment records represent the initial onset of the Veteran's eye disorder(s).
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral eye disorder, bilateral non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, bilateral pseudophakia, bilateral optic nerve pallor, bilateral open angle glaucoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20062110
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 20062110.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the claims for service connection must be remanded due to inadequate examinations and opinions. The Veteran's skin disorder, respiratory disorder, Crohn's disease, eye disorder, and migraines are all being reviewed again with new medical evaluations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent for service-connected right eye retinal vein occlusion with bilateral open angle glaucoma and pseudophakia is being remanded due to an error by the AOJ in not providing notice of his right to a hearing before the AOJ.
- Granted
Effective August 26, 2023, the Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation at the rate intermediate between 38 U.S.C. 1114(m) and 38 U.S.C. 1114(n) (M12) is granted, subject to law and regulations governing the award of monetary benefits. Additionally, a 30 percent rating for service-connected migraines is granted effective August 26, 2023.
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