The Veteran's right eye pterygium and bilateral pinguecula were granted a disability rating of 20 percent, effective from May 13, 2018. Prior to this date, the disabilities did not meet criteria for a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The September 2023 VA examination found that the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated incapacitating episodes requiring at least 3 but less than 5 treatment visits for an eye condition during the past 12 months, resulting in a higher evaluation than evaluating based on visual impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Right eye pterygium, Bilateral pinguecula
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- December 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23065564
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 23065564.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied because the evidence did not show that his service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.
- Denied
The Veteran's right eye pterygium is not considered disabling enough to warrant a compensable evaluation, as there were no incapacitating episodes or visual impairment.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, left knee osteoarthritis, and left ankle sprain, while denying service connection for hypertension. The Board also granted an initial 20% rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome but denied compensable ratings for bilateral pinguecula and a right ring finger disability.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions and denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection, except for a 10 percent rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae and a 20 percent rating for bilateral dry eye syndrome.
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