The Board remands the claim for service connection for residuals of LASIK eye surgery, to include vision loss and dry eye syndrome, as it failed to adequately address whether 38 C.F.R. § 3.306(b)(1) applied to the Veteran's situation.
The deciding factor: The Board must obtain an additional medical opinion regarding whether any residual resulting from the in-service LASIK surgery is a 'usual effect' contemplated by 38 C.F.R. § 3.306(b)(1) and if so, whether it was otherwise aggravated by service in any way.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of LASIK eye surgery, to include vision loss and dry eye syndrome
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 28, 2025
- Citation
- 25007193
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 the claim for service connection for residuals of LASIK eye surgery, to include vision loss and dry eye syndrome, as the evidence showed that these conditions were usual effects of the in-service surgical treatment.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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