The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for optic nerve damage due to VA treatment/lack of treatment was denied.,Service connection claims for a low back disorder, sleep disorder, gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, head injury, dizziness, and headache with sinus disorder were all denied on the basis that there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's optic nerve damage was not caused by VA treatment or examination. The medical records do not show any connection between his current condition and VA care.,There is no evidence showing a low back disorder in service, nor during the one-year post-service period. The medical evidence does not support a direct link to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Optic nerve damage, Low back disorder, Sleep disorder, Gastrointestinal (GI) disorder, Head injury, Dizziness, Headache with sinus disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2023
- Citation
- A23032737
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 A23032737.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for a low back disorder was reopened, and his claims for increased ratings of bilateral knee instability were granted. His hearing loss claim was denied.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension, bilateral knee disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder are remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA care provided by AMRM on March 30, 2021, finding that it met the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a low back disorder, finding that the evidence did not show an in-service onset or relationship to service.
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.