The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for retinopathy and entitlement to SMC based on aid and attendance due to loss of use of sight prior to January 27, 2023. The VA is instructed to obtain a medical opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's previously diagnosed retinopathy.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the provided medical opinions were inadequate and remanded for further development including obtaining an adequate opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's previously diagnosed retinopathy.
- Claimed conditions
- retinopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23050349
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 23050349.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted, with an effective date of January 11, 2008.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication of the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due to her testimony regarding good cause. The Veteran had pending service connection claims at the time of his death.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, including cataracts, retinopathy, and dry eye syndrome, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between her current conditions and her military service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for eye disabilities, to include retinopathy, bilateral nuclear cataracts, bilateral dermatochalasis, dry eye, and pinguecula, as the prior VA medical opinion regarding aggravation was found to be conclusory and lacked necessary medical reasoning.
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