The Veteran's left eye disability, which includes choroidal rupture and traumatic cataract, is rated at 40 percent. The appeal for an increased rating in excess of this has been denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher schedular rating as there is no anatomical loss or aphakia present, and the Veteran's disability is evaluated based on visual impairment under the General Rating Formula.
- Claimed conditions
- left eye choroidal rupture, traumatic cataract
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 28, 2021
- Citation
- 21004938
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 21004938.
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 Veteran's left eye disability, which includes pseudophakia, traumatic cataract, and retinal detachment with scleral buckle, is rated at a 30 percent disability level since September 4, 2022.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to consider secondary service connection or separate ratings for left eye pain, discharge, muscle spasms, and dry eye syndrome. The AOJ will need to provide an examination to determine if these symptoms are related to the Veteran's service-connected left eye choroidal rupture.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right eye disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a left eye injury was denied as the earliest possible effective date is February 4, 1981, when he filed his initial claim.
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