The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye/vision disorder, to include as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, and denied his claim for TDIU on an extraschedular basis due to his service-connected tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and hypertension.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against finding that any bilateral eye/vision disorder began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's service-connected hypertension does not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral eye/vision disorder, hypertensive retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21021087
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 21021087.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for an eye condition, carpal tunnel syndrome, and diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction. However, it granted a 70% rating for PTSD and separate 10% ratings for diabetic neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board is remanding the claim for service connection for hypertensive retinopathy to ensure compliance with a Joint Motion for Remand, which requires providing notice of the right to a pre-decisional hearing.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive retinopathy as it is not secondary to a currently service-connected condition.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a vision disability, to include diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, open angle glaucoma, blepharitis, left eye optic neuritis, and hypertensive retinopathy, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.
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.