The Veteran's bilateral dry eye syndrome and/or bilateral superficial punctate keratitis was granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD, while cataracts, pseudophakia, left eye macular hole, bilateral epiretinal membrane, macular degeneration, and vitreous degeneration were denied.
The deciding factor: The March 2025 VA examiner's opinion that the Veteran's dry eye syndrome and/or superficial punctate keratitis was caused by medications taken to treat his service-connected PTSD led to its grant. The same examiner concluded that the other eye conditions were not related to service or any aspect of it, including herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral dry eye syndrome/bilateral superficial punctate keratitis, cataracts, pseudophakia, left eye macular hole, bilateral epiretinal membrane, macular degeneration, and vitreous degeneration
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- June 30, 2025
- Citation
- 25008590
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and macular degeneration, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cataracts, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the condition to his active service or a service-connected disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded to ensure that the appellant receives every possible consideration, including a new VA examination.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for a left eye disorder, including amblyopia and other conditions, as there was no evidence of aggravation beyond their natural progression during the Veteran's periods of active duty.
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