The Board denied service connection for an eye disability as the Veteran's conditions are considered congenital defects and not subject to a superimposed disease or injury during military service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's astigmatic refractive errors and presbyopia were congenital defects, not diseases, and did not have evidence of a superimposed disease or injury during service.
- Claimed conditions
- astigmatic refractive errors, presbyopia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2023
- Citation
- 23058452
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 23058452.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, hypertensive retinopathy, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia, unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration, dry eye syndrome, presence of intraocular lens, old branch retinal vein occlusion, and bilateral pinguecula.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's eye issues, specifically presbyopia, are remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition is denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left eye disorder, including amblyopia and other conditions, as there was no evidence of aggravation beyond their natural progression during the Veteran's periods of active duty.
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