BVA decisions by condition
Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration): BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) issue in 1,520 decisions. It granted the retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) issue in 20.1% of them, close to the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 29.8%, and remanded it in 49.2%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 40.2% were granted.
Decisions
1,520
2017–2026
Granted
20.1%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
40.2%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
49.2%
Denied: 29.8%
Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 153 | 13.1% | 42.5% | 38.6% |
| 2018 | 223 | 13.0% | 40.8% | 45.3% |
| 2019 | 212 | 16.5% | 25.0% | 56.6% |
| 2020 | 195 | 19.5% | 31.3% | 48.7% |
| 2021 | 153 | 19.6% | 31.4% | 51.0% |
| 2022 | 160 | 25.6% | 16.3% | 56.9% |
| 2023 | 152 | 28.3% | 19.1% | 52.0% |
| 2024 | 125 | 21.6% | 31.2% | 47.2% |
| 2025 | 106 | 25.5% | 29.2% | 46.2% |
Evidence in granted and denied retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 250 | 69.4% | 31.1% | +38.3 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 541 | 62.4% | 25.9% | +36.5 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 77 | 71.7% | 37.9% | +33.8 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 209 | 63.8% | 34.3% | +29.5 pts |
| Buddy statement | 42 | 65.5% | 39.2% | +26.3 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 478 | 51.2% | 33.2% | +18.0 pts |
| Combat service | 86 | 45.5% | 39.9% | +5.5 pts |
| Lay statement | 1,143 | 37.4% | 53.4% | −15.9 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 69.5% of the decisions that granted retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration).
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 30.5% of grants and 15.5% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 706 | 32.1% | 49.2% | −17.1 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 980 | 34.1% | 55.6% | −21.4 pts |
Retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) claimed as a secondary condition
Decisions where retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) was claimed as secondary to another service-connected disability (38 CFR 3.310), by that disability.
Why the Board granted or denied retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration)
Most common reasons in grants
- Caused by the service-connected disability57
- Current diagnosis established47
- Service connection established26
- Criteria for secondary service connection met6
- Criteria for service connection met4
- Secondary service connection granted4
- Diabetic retinopathy is a known complication of diabetes3
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service3
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim41
- No in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis32
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service32
- No current diagnosis31
- Service records negative or silent25
- Current diagnosis established16
- No incapacitating episodes10
- Aggravated by the service-connected disability7
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) decisions
Granted
Diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and cataracts post-service.; Recognized complications of diabetes mellitus.; Private medical opinion confirmed these conditions are approximately due to Type I diabetes.
Multiple injections received between April 22, 2021, and September 21, 2021.; Symptoms began around April 22, 2021.; Symptoms resolved after injections by September 21, 2021.
Diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy in January 2014; January 2025 VA eye exam found retinopathy related to Type II diabetes mellitus
Denied
No visual field defects or decreased visual acuity.; Corrected vision generally 20/20 or better.; Symptoms prior to April 22, 2021, not clearly established.
No probative medical nexus opinion found; VA examiner found no direct or presumptive service connection; Evidence persuasively weighs against service connection
No incapacitating episodes requiring 3-5 visits; Visual acuity warrants noncompensable rating; Evidence against higher rating
Rules that apply to retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) claims
- 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a retinal dystrophy (including retinitis pigmentosa macular degeneration) issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.