The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury to the left eye and that any current eye disorders are not related to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the medical evidence did not support that the left eye was injured during service, as described by the Veteran. The examiner explained that if the macular scar was due to trauma, it would have needed to hit hard enough to disrupt the macula portion of the retina, which is located at the back of the eye.
- Claimed conditions
- Macular scarring, Nuclear sclerosis, Vitreous hemorrhage
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20067122
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.