The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the left eye disability effective December 6, 2021, and denied a higher rating prior to that date. The sternotomy scar was also denied a compensable rating.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on the evidence showing corrected visual acuity of 20/70 in the left eye from December 6, 2021, which met the criteria for a 20 percent rating under DC 6066. The left eye disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating prior to that date.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of vision of the left eye, sternotomy scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- 25008558
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,757 · Granted: 23% (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 25008558.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination for the chorioretinal scar of the left eye. The cases are also being remanded to determine an appropriate disability rating for the sternotomy scar.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chorioretinal scar of the left eye and sternotomy scar need further review due to outstanding VA treatment records.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of consideration of relevant private treatment records and an inadequate opinion from the VA examiner. The Veteran's loss of vision in the left eye is being reviewed again for possible service connection under the merits.
- Granted
The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected coronary artery disease, which prevents him from working as a logger.
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.