The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination regarding the relationship between the Veteran's eye pressure disorder and her service-connected hypertension.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not address the prior diagnosis of retinopathy, which is relevant to the current claim.
- Claimed conditions
- Eye pressure disorder, Retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20078404
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 20078404.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to the need for a combined effects VA opinion on the impact of his service-connected disabilities since January 12, 2024. The AOJ should obtain this opinion and consider all conditions in determining whether he can secure or follow substantially gainful employment.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, headaches, erectile dysfunction, insomnia, and skin disability of the feet due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's service connection claims are being remanded for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's GERD was not shown in service or for many years thereafter and has not been found to be etiologically related to service.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction did not originate in service or until years after service and is not otherwise etiologically related to service or to a service-connected disability.,The evidence is persuasively against a finding that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of retinopathy.,Service connection for retinopathy was denied as there is no clinical diagnosis of retinopathy at any point during the course of this appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with retinopathy is rated at 20 percent prior to May 4, 2020 and at 40 percent from that date. The higher rating of 60 percent was not granted due to lack of hospitalizations or frequent visits for diabetic care.
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