The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable initial rating for bilateral keratoconus prior to December 7, 1999 and for a rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral keratoconus from December 7, 1999 due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran will need to provide VA with any relevant medical records from the Boston VA Medical Center and Jamaica Plain VA Medical Center prior to this date.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there is not enough information in the record regarding the Veteran's bilateral keratoconus prior to December 7, 1999 and since his last examination after December 7, 1999. Therefore, a new VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of the condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral keratoconus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068527
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20068527.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 claims for increased ratings and service connection, as there was no evidence supporting a compensable rating or service connection for any of the claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an initial rating of 40 percent for the Veteran's eye condition, based on visual impairment in both eyes.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the issues of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral keratoconus and an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for a mid-back disability due to an impermissible concurrent election.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for initial and increased ratings for bilateral keratoconus are being remanded due to the failure of substantial compliance with previous Board directives.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.