The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral eye condition and lumbar DDD/IVDS as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine whether the claimed conditions are part-and-parcel of her service-connected left eye disability or if they have a separate etiology. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion on direct and secondary theories of service connection, and ensure that the Veteran's flare-ups are considered in any new examination for lumbar DDD/IVDS.
The deciding factor: The Board found insufficient medical evidence to determine whether the claimed conditions are part-and-parcel of her service-connected left eye disability or if they have a separate etiology. The VA must obtain an addendum opinion on direct and secondary theories of service connection, and ensure that the Veteran's flare-ups are considered in any new examination for lumbar DDD/IVDS.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral eye condition (claimed as dryness, pain, and light sensitivity)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 9, 2023
- Citation
- 23008702
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 23008702.
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.
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- Remanded (sent back)
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- Granted
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- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or any related exposure.
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