The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral eye disability, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II with diabetic retinopathy. The decision is based on medical opinions that attribute the Veteran's current eye disabilities to his service-connected DM and diabetic retinopathy.
The deciding factor: Medical opinions have established a link between the Veteran's service-connected DM and diabetic retinopathy, which are considered to be the cause of his currently diagnosed bilateral eye disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral eye disability, Right eye retinal detachment, Bilateral lattice degeneration with holes, Bilateral pseudophakia
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 5, 2024
- Citation
- 24006192
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 24006192.
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 bilateral pseudophakia, cystoid Macular edema, right eye, and macular pucker, right eye were rated at 30 percent due to visual impairment. The evidence did not show any incapacitating episodes or other issues warranting a higher rating.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disability and bilateral hearing loss are related to his military service, granting service connection for both conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, gastrointestinal disability, bilateral eye disability, and psychiatric disorder due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The Veteran's claims were remanded for consideration of obstructive sleep apnea.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral eye disability, finding no evidence that the condition was incurred in or caused by service and noting that it is not related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.
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.