The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and needs additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral nuclear cataracts and chorioretinal scars.
The deciding factor: The decision is based on an error in fulfilling the duty to assist, specifically focusing on the need for an addendum opinion from an appropriate clinician to address all current diagnoses related to the Veteran's conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral nuclear cataracts, chorioretinal scars
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 7, 2024
- Citation
- A24023520
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 A24023520.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, specifically chorioretinal scars with diplopia, is now rated at 30 percent effective from the date of claim (July 30, 2014).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for eye disabilities, to include retinopathy, bilateral nuclear cataracts, bilateral dermatochalasis, dry eye, and pinguecula, as the prior VA medical opinion regarding aggravation was found to be conclusory and lacked necessary medical reasoning.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus type II was denied due to failure to attend a VA examination. The claims for service connection for a cardiovascular disability and TDIU were remanded for further development.
- Partly granted
The veteran's claim for a higher rating before September 2021 was denied, but a separate 10% rating for chorioretinal scars was granted.
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