{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/vision-impairment-blindness","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:11.426Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Vision impairment blindness","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":670,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":5.5,"denied_pct":40,"remanded_pct":53.6,"granted_on_merits_pct":12.1,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":24,"granted_pct":8.3,"denied_pct":41.7,"remanded_pct":50},{"year":2018,"issues":58,"granted_pct":3.4,"denied_pct":41.4,"remanded_pct":51.7},{"year":2019,"issues":96,"granted_pct":2.1,"denied_pct":36.5,"remanded_pct":57.3},{"year":2020,"issues":87,"granted_pct":2.3,"denied_pct":36.8,"remanded_pct":59.8},{"year":2021,"issues":73,"granted_pct":5.5,"denied_pct":38.4,"remanded_pct":54.8},{"year":2022,"issues":92,"granted_pct":6.5,"denied_pct":32.6,"remanded_pct":60.9},{"year":2023,"issues":105,"granted_pct":4.8,"denied_pct":39,"remanded_pct":55.2},{"year":2024,"issues":61,"granted_pct":8.2,"denied_pct":42.6,"remanded_pct":49.2},{"year":2025,"issues":67,"granted_pct":7.5,"denied_pct":53.7,"remanded_pct":38.8},{"year":2026,"issues":22,"granted_pct":22.7,"denied_pct":40.9,"remanded_pct":31.8}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":64.9,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":67,"granted_pct_with":25.6,"granted_pct_without":10.2},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":467,"granted_pct_with":9.8,"granted_pct_without":18.8},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":85,"granted_pct_with":32.7,"granted_pct_without":7.9},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":335,"granted_pct_with":9.9,"granted_pct_without":14.7},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":167,"granted_pct_with":26.2,"granted_pct_without":6.8},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":516,"granted_pct_with":10.9,"granted_pct_without":17.5}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":6},{"reason":"criteria for service connection met","decisions":2},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":2}],"denied":[{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":31},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":23},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":21},{"reason":"criteria for service connection not met","decisions":15},{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":12},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":8}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26035945","year":2026,"judge":"L. STEPANICK","rationale":"Evidence in equipoise; Benefit of the doubt applied; Visual disturbances as symptom of MS"},{"case_id":"A26027493","year":2026,"judge":"M. HYLAND","rationale":"Secondary service connection warranted per Morgan and Bailey v. Wilkie; Impairment attributable to service-connected left trigeminal neuralgia; Noted by November 2024 VA examiner"},{"case_id":"A26026586","year":2026,"judge":"CHRISTOPHER SEPPANEN","rationale":"Onset in service"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"A26039270","year":2026,"judge":"VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI","rationale":"No complaints, symptoms, or treatment for vision issues in service; No evidence of vision condition until 2020; No current disability demonstrated; Duty to assist not triggered"},{"case_id":"A26031189","year":2026,"judge":"A. P. SIMPSON","rationale":"Evidence persuasively weighs against current disability; Lack of documentation in service treatment records and subsequent medical records; Private medical opinion did not address vision disability"},{"case_id":"26003861","year":2026,"judge":"NATHANIEL DOAN","rationale":"Refractive error is a developmental defect not eligible for service connection.; No eligible current disability other than refractive error.; Veteran's lay reports of vision loss not supported by medical documentation."}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}