A 20 percent rating for dry eye syndrome is granted beginning February 20, 2018.,A higher 10 percent rating is granted for pinguecula with corneal scarring.,Since November 23, 2020, a higher 30 percent rating is granted for infiltrative keratitis and open angle glaucoma.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has had bilateral dry eye syndrome since at least 1995. The earlier May 2018 VA examiner noted this condition.,VA issued a final rule revising the portion of the VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities that addresses the organs of special sense and schedule of ratings-eye, effective May 13, 2018. DC 7804 instructs to evaluate a painful scar as 10-percent disabling.,The Veteran reported intermittent, chronic eye pain and photophobia due to his service-connected eye conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Dry Eye Syndrome, Pinguecula with Corneal Scarring, Infiltrative Keratitis and Open Angle Glaucoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 26, 2021
- Citation
- 21070826
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 21070826.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date for a 70 percent evaluation for bilateral glaucoma to include dry eye syndrome, beginning August 31, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, while denying service connection for hypertension, a left arm disability, a left lower extremity neurological disability, a right lower extremity neurological disability, and left knee pain. The Board also granted ratings of 70%, 10%, and 30% for posttraumatic stress disorder with unspecified depressive disorder, dry eye syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, respectively.
- Dismissed
The appeal for restoration of a 60 percent rating for skin disabilities and the appeals for service connection for back disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, increased evaluation for PTSD, and increased evaluation for dry eye syndrome were dismissed. The appeals for service connection for ED (secondary to PTSD), bilateral foot disability, and cervical spine (neck) disability were remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's depressive disorder is rated as TDIU effective February 21, 2024.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted effective February 21, 2024.,An initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis is denied.,A higher rating of hypertension is denied.
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