The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, including keratitis in a keratoconus treated intrascleral ring and/or keratoconus, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding private treatment records.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner needs to clarify whether the Veteran has a current diagnosis of keratoconus in his left eye and determine if it is at least as likely as not related to military service or environmental factors from Fort Bliss, Texas.
- Claimed conditions
- keratitis in a keratoconus treated intrascleral ring, keratoconus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 17, 2023
- Citation
- 23056505
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 23056505.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the initial compensable disability rating for keratoconus and the initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for migraine headaches.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety was denied as the evidence did not support a diagnosis of an anxiety disorder.,The Veteran's claim for increased rating for depression was denied because his symptoms were consistent with those already covered by his existing service-connected disability.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's claims for service connection for keratoconus, depression, and sleep apnea have been readjudicated. The claim of service connection for keratoconus is granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and sleep apnea are remanded to the AOJ for further review.
- Granted
The Veteran's keratoconus is granted service connection due to in-service exposure to sand and dust. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus is remanded for further review.
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