The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further development and clarification regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye conditions, including their etiology related to toxic exposure during service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that there is no cause-and-effect relationship between chemical exposure and the development of the Veteran's bilateral eye conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral legal blindness, bilateral optic neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Burn pits / airborne hazards
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23061927
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 23061927.
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's appeals for increased ratings for partial pneumonectomy and bilateral optic neuropathy have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) for his service-connected bilateral focal chorioretinitis, bilateral optic neuritis, peripheral retinal degeneration, bilateral macular degeneration, and bilateral optic neuropathy, as well as PTSD with unspecified neurocognitive disorder and TBI.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeal of service connection for COPD as the Veteran withdrew his appeal. The Board granted service connection for bilateral optic neuropathy.
- Denied
The Board found that bilateral optic neuropathy was not incurred or aggravated by service and is unrelated to any service-connected disability. The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied.
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.