The Board has found that the VA examination in April 2022 was inadequate and did not substantially comply with the January 2022 remand instructions. The Veteran's eye disability, other than his service-connected bilateral cataract to include dry eye syndrome and vitreous degeneration, needs further evaluation by a qualified clinician.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner failed to provide an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed keratoconjunctivitis sicca and did not address the Veteran's prior diagnoses during the pendency of the appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- eye disability, other than service-connected bilateral cataract to include dry eye syndrome and vitreous degeneration, epiretinal membrane, vertical diplopia, keratoconjunctivitis sicca
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 28, 2022
- Citation
- 22042911
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 22042911.
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 bilateral diabetic retinopathy with bilateral pseudophakia and epiretinal membrane is rated at 20 percent effective September 10, 2021. The appeal for a separate rating prior to this date and service connection for pancreatitis are remanded.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for lumbar and thoracic spine disabilities based on new evidence, but remanded all other issues for further development.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for left eye disability, finding that his visual acuity was at least 20/20 in both eyes and did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disability, other than cataracts and/or glaucoma, finding no evidence of an in-service injury or event related to his current right eye disabilities.
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