The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and halos status-post PRK surgery due to duty-to-assist errors. The VA examiner found that the conditions were less likely than not incurred in or caused by service, but further development is required to assess their etiologies.
The deciding factor: The Board has identified deficiencies in the examination report and requires additional medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's eye disorder and halos status-post PRK surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- Blepharitis, Halos status-post photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 13, 2024
- Citation
- A24056345
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 A24056345.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied a separate compensable disability rating for cataracts associated with diabetes mellitus and service connection for blepharitis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or any service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for PTSD, blood clots, blepharitis, and bilateral hearing loss.
- Granted
The Veteran's MDD, rated at 100 percent since August 20, 2020, and other service-connected conditions have resulted in an effective date of August 20, 2020, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claim for sleep apnea is denied. For his bilateral blepharitis and dry eye syndrome, the Board found that a higher evaluation prior to March 5, 2018 was not warranted but granted a 20% evaluation from that date onwards.
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.