The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right eye disability is being remanded due to the need for clarification on the etiology of additional diagnoses noted in post-service medical records.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there has not been substantial compliance with its prior remands and thus requires further development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's additional diagnosed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- retained metallic fragment of right cornea with corneal scar, right eye floaters, right dry eye syndrome, right eye cataract, right eye macular epiretinal membrane, right eye macular hole, right eye vitreoretinal tag
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22000214
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 22000214.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC have been remanded due to regulatory changes affecting the rating of eyes on May 13, 2018. The AOJ is instructed to consider both old and new criteria for rating eye disabilities.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for tinnitus is granted. Claims for right eye cataract, foot pain, lung cancer, hypertension, heart disability, PVD and bilateral iliac artery stents, interstitial lung disease, COPD, and benign prostate condition are denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his presumed exposure at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left dry eye syndrome, as well as glaucoma in both eyes, are being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Veteran reported that his VA examination was cancelled because the examiner tested positive for COVID-19.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to provide proper notice of the Veteran's right to a hearing before the AOJ prior to the April 2021 rating decision on appeal.
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