The Board has found that an additional VA opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's cataract surgery caused or contributed to his retinal detachment and/or proliferative vitreoretinopathy. The case is being remanded for this purpose.
The deciding factor: An addendum opinion from a retina specialist is required to address whether the Veteran’s 2009 cataract surgery caused or contributed to his retinal detachment and/or proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- blind right eye, retinal detachment, proliferative vitreoretinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2020
- Citation
- 20065238
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 appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for open angle glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataract (eye disability) was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by VA's carelessness or negligence.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance and an earlier effective date for service connection of schizoaffective disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for open angle glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal detachment as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any in-service toxic exposure.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for open angle glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataract (eye disability) is remanded due to deficiencies in the prior medical opinions.
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