The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in the August 2021 decision, including inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's eye conditions were aggravated during service and whether his bilateral pseudophakia is related to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner did not adequately address the Veteran's complaints of new symptoms following the May 1972 surgery and did not consider the relationship between the pre-existing alternating exotropia and the current diagnosis, nor did they assess whether the bilateral pseudophakia is related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Alternating exotropia, Bilateral pseudophakia
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2023
- Citation
- A23030291
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 A23030291.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's bilateral pseudophakia, cystoid Macular edema, right eye, and macular pucker, right eye were rated at 30 percent due to visual impairment. The evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes or other issues warranting a higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's alternating exotropia, with mild bilateral nuclear sclerosis and bilateral stationary peripheral pterygium, results in a noncompensable disability rating due to the absence of impairment of central visual acuity or constant diplopia.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral eye disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic retinopathy. The decision is based on medical opinions that attribute the Veteran's current eye disabilities to his service-connected DM and diabetic retinopathy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected alternating exotropia is being remanded due to the need for an adequate VA examination.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.