The Veteran's initial claim for a 20 percent disability rating for bilateral lagophthalmos with dry eye syndrome is granted. The Board also finds that a separate compensable rating of 20 percent is warranted for bilateral exophthalmos, but remands the issue to schedule an examination.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's condition was found to be bilateral and meets the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6022.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral lagophthalmos, Dry eye syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- October 23, 2021
- Citation
- A21017164
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 A21017164.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's post-operative cataracts with pseudophakia and vitreous degeneration are rated at 50 percent, effective from the date of the August 2024 rating decision. The separate rating for dry eye syndrome is also granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disabilities are related to service or preexisted with no superimposed injury during service. The VA must obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriately qualified examiner.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for moderate chronic bilateral dry eye syndrome and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left knee degenerative arthritis was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings, but also noted errors in obtaining relevant private treatment records and remanded to obtain these records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded several claims due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including for new VA medical opinions on right wrist and knee conditions, right foot condition, right ankle condition, erectile dysfunction, GERD, headaches, obstructive sleep apnea, dry eye syndrome, lumbar spine condition, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.
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