Service connection is granted for chorioretinal scar of the right eye.,Service connection is granted for disc bulge at L5-S1, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and muscle spasms of the lumbar spine. The Veteran's service treatment records show complaints and treatment for low back pain during active duty service, and an MRI in 2015 noted a bulging disc near L5.,The Veteran's current left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service or any other condition.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of atrial septal defect status post closure and cardiomyopathy, but it is unclear if these conditions are superimposed over his congenital or developmental defects. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran had a chorioretinal scar of the right eye during active duty service.,The Veteran has current diagnoses of disc bulge at L5-S1, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and muscle spasms of the lumbar spine. The examiner determined that these conditions began during active duty service based on the presence of a preexisting fracture in 2001 and subsequent treatment records.,The Veteran's current left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy and/or lumbar radiculopathy are at least as likely as not related to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service or any other condition.,The Veteran has a current diagnosis of atrial septal defect status post closure and cardiomyopathy, but it is unclear if these conditions are superimposed over his congenital or developmental defects. The examiner did not provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's heart disability is related to active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- chorioretinal scar of the right eye, disc bulge at L5-S1, degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, and muscle spasms of the lumbar spine, shooting pain and numbness down the left lower extremity, heart disorder to include atrial septal defect status post closure and cardiomyopathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24002662
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,421 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 24002662.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for migraine headaches as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected iritis of the right eye, chorioretinal scar of the right eye, and angle closure glaucoma, to include bilateral dry eye syndrome. The case is also remanded for further development regarding a compensable rating prior to February 21, 2018, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for iritis of the right eye, chorioretinal scar of the right eye, angle closure glaucoma, to include bilateral dry eye syndrome, bilateral epiretinal membrane, and bilateral pseudophakia.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the severity of the Veteran's eye disabilities, the etiology of her visual field defects and headaches, and whether she is entitled to a compensable rating prior to February 21, 2018, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter for iritis of the right eye, chorioretinal scar of the right eye, and angle closure glaucoma, to include bilateral dry eye syndrome.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining an opinion on the nature and severity of her eye disability throughout the appeal period, the etiology of her visual field defect(s), and whether her service-connected iritis of the right eye, chorioretinal scar of the right eye, and angle closure glaucoma, to include bilateral dry eye syndrome, has required treatment by a provider specifically for treatment purposes.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of April 2012 for his right eye disability, as there is no evidence of a prior claim filed before April 25, 2014. The effective date was set at April 25, 2013 based on a liberalizing law.
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.