The appeal is granted, and service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome is restored. The Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear is not considered a disability for VA purposes, but he has established a current left ear hearing loss disability. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee is granted with specific ratings based on limitation of motion.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish that the Veteran’s dry eye syndrome was incurred or aggravated by service, and there is no clear and unmistakable error in granting service connection for bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy which included bilateral dry eye syndrome. The Veteran's hearing loss in the right ear cannot be considered a disability for VA purposes due to preexisting conditions. Service connection for degenerative arthritis of the right knee was granted based on limitation of motion, with specific ratings assigned.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Dry Eye Syndrome, Hearing Loss in Right Ear, Degenerative Arthritis, Right Knee
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20063918
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,217 · Granted: 46% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20063918.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's hyperthyroidism with bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted an initial 20 percent rating. A separate 30 percent rating for a thyroidectomy scar is also granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for urinary incontinence, anterior prolapse (cystocele), and bilateral dry eye syndrome with a 20% disability rating. The effective date of July 7, 2017 is also granted for the service-connected bilateral dry eye syndrome.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected back disability is being remanded to the AOJ for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral conjunctivitis with a history of dry eye syndrome is rated at 10 percent from March 4, 2019. A separate and compensable rating of 20 percent for bilateral dry eye syndrome is granted. The Veteran's entitlement to increased ratings for IVDS remains pending.
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