The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, to include myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, photophobia, and myopic astigmatism with presbyopia and photophobia, as the evidence did not support a finding of a current disability or that such disability was caused or aggravated by service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran has a current eye disability that causes functional impairment affecting earning capacity, and even if an eye disability were found, it is less likely than not caused or aggravated by the service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2 with vertigo or migraine headaches.
- Claimed conditions
- myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, photophobia, myopic astigmatism with presbyopia and photophobia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2021
- Citation
- 21062508
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.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for a mental health condition and denied service connection for an eye condition. The claims for autoimmune limbic encephalitis with non-paraneoplastic limbic encephalitis (NPLE) with GAD65 antibodies and dystonia and dystonic tremor were remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection of photophobia to obtain a new VA opinion that adequately addresses its etiology, including whether it is related to the Veteran's active duty or secondary to his service-connected psychiatric condition.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for head trauma, vision problems, myopia, right hand disability, left knee disability, and left ankle disability was dismissed due to an untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD).
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal was denied as the Board Appeal request was not timely filed within one year of the rating decisions issued on August 17, 2022, November 16, 2022, July 7, 2023, November 3, 2023, December 12, 2023, and March 14, 2024.
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.