The Veteran's claims for painful scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access and scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access have been granted with effective dates of April 18, 2019.,The Veteran's claim for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy has been granted with an effective date of June 9, 2015. The Board found that the earliest diagnosis was on this date and thus is the effective date.,The Veteran's claim for cerebellar stroke has been granted with an effective date of March 18, 2022.
The deciding factor: The right arm scars were created during surgery in April 2019. The Board found that entitlement to service connection arose on this date and thus the earlier effective date was warranted.,Bilateral hypertensive retinopathy was diagnosed on June 9, 2015, which is when the Veteran's hypertension condition had been established. Therefore, the earliest effective date for bilateral hypertensive retinopathy was granted based on this diagnosis.,Cerebellar stroke was related to service-connected hypertension and assigned a 100% rating as of March 18, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- painful scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access, scar, right arm AV fistula for hemodialysis access, bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, cerebellar stroke
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2026
- Citation
- A26017906
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 A26017906.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, including bilateral cataracts, hypertensive retinopathy, hypermetropia, astigmatism, presbyopia, unspecified peripheral retinal degeneration, dry eye syndrome, presence of intraocular lens, old branch retinal vein occlusion, and bilateral pinguecula.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for vision impairment, bilateral hypertensive retinopathy, glaucoma, and pseudophakia is remanded due to the need for additional development related to toxic exposure during service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis, left lower extremity radiculopathy secondary to lumbar spine degenerative disc disease with spondylolisthesis, hypertension, constipation, and bilateral hypertensive retinopathy. The Veteran's skin condition is considered part of the service connection for fungal onychomycosis, tinea pedis and hyperkeratosis.
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