The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right eye pterygium clearly and unmistakably preexisted service and was not aggravated by service. A new opinion is needed from a VA examiner.
The deciding factor: The previous opinions did not address the Veteran’s contentions related to his duties during service when opining as to aggravation, nor did they apply the appropriate clear and unmistakable standard of evidence.
- Claimed conditions
- pterygium, right eye
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20068556
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 claim for a compensable rating for dry eye syndrome was dismissed due to untimely filing of the Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The Board will remand the service connection claim for an eye disorder, including corneal ulcer, pterygium, pinguecula, retinal fibrosis, arcus senilis, anterior toxic cortical cataract, superficial punctate keratitis (SPK), and visual field constriction.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of pterygium to schedule a VA examination and obtain an adequate medical opinion.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating before September 2021 was denied, but a separate 10% rating for chorioretinal scars was granted.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, finding that there is no probative and competent medical evidence linking his current eye disorders to his military service or his service-connected diabetes mellitus.
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