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I am currently rated 10% for keratoconus with a visual acuity of 20/70 in my right eye and 20/40 in my left. The DVA decision letter states a higher evaluation is not warranted unless there is documented incapacitating episodes requiring treatment visits for my eye condition. My question is whether immunotherapy (allergy shots) would be considered treatment visits. I've been receiving 5 allergy injections weekly for the past several years to reduce my eye allergies so I can wear medically necessary sclera lenses for keratoconus. I have no other allergy symptoms except for my eyes. If I don't get the weekly shots my eye allergy symptoms become severe and I can't wear my contacts. Would this be considered an incapacitating episode? My medical records dating back 7 plus years confirm I have been diagnosed with allergic conjunctivitis. If I could wear glasses my eye allergy symptoms would be less severe since anything in the eye increases the irritation and redness. I have been documenting my eye allergy flare ups with photographs. On a side note, I was recently diagnosed with pingueculas in both eyes. Pinguecula (code 6037) further complicates the fitting of sclera lenses, but there is no scaring on my eyes from them. My non-VA eye doctor is great, but I have been to his office 10+ times in the past 12 months while he tries to fit contacts for me that work around my other eye complications. Thank you in advance for any advice.

Thank you! I only received a letter from the Board of Veteran's Appeals. It is dated April 6, 2020, but there is no mention of a percentage of effective date. I was contacted to schedule an appointment for an eye exam soon after receiving the letter, but everything is on hold and they are not taking appointments until the Covid-19 situation improves. I'm fine with that. Thank you

Yesterday I was contacted by the DVA to schedule an appointment for an eye exam, so I assume the rating will increase from 0% after the examination is completed. Any info on ratings for keratoconus or whether submitting a claim for conjunctivitis seems worthwhile would be appreciated. Also, I truly believe the nexus letters very beneficial in the claims process and want to share what worked for me. I was able to get the letters from 4 out of 5 doctors. I created a one page letter explaining to the doctor that I was going through the process of submitting a claim to the DVA, my symptoms, circumstances contributing to the condition, any research articles supporting my claim, and I provided copies of my military medical records that were relevant to the claim. This was in addition to a sample nexus letter. Doctors are always rushed for time, but I felt this briefly laid out the process in writing and gave them all the resources to review prior to writing the letter.

I just received a letter from the Board of Veteran's Appeal notifying me that service connection for bilateral keratoconus was granted. I currently am rated at 90%. I served in the Army as a paratrooper 11B-1P from 1996 - 2000. I was diagnosed with Keratoconus in 2013 and contact lenses in both eyes are medically necessary. I had the cornea crosslinking surgery in both eyes in 2015. The decision noted the following things were positively considered in granting my appeal: 1) My medical records indicated I was exposed to asbestos and chemicals while on deployment in Kosovo (this is in reference to the report of medical history form "Standard Form 93" soldiers complete on exit of service) 2) My medical records noted I had cystic acne which required me to take medications (minocycline) that caused photosensitivity 3) I provided a nexus letter from my optometrist who opined that many of the adverse conditions I was exposed to while on deployment most likely contributed to my condition (exposure to ultra violet rays from the sun, chemicals, and unsanitary conditions 4) I submitted letters from both my parents eye doctors that stated neither of them had the disease. Two research articles I provided my optometrist were Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of keratoconus and Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy by the Department of Molecular Genetics. Here is a link to another one that is useful: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449900/ I checked the E benefits VA website and although my account now indicates the condition is service connected, it shows a 0% rating. I have read conflicting info where some say the keratoconus rating is based upon your corrective vision after glasses or contacts, so if your vision is 20/20 with glasses or contacts the rating is 0. The medically necessary contact lenses I wear make my vision approximately 20/20, but I still get the halo effect a night with lights and sensitivity to light. I also read that if contacts are medically necessary a minimum of 30% is warranted. Can someone tell me which it is or provide more information? I also suffer from moderate to severe conjunctivitis which is well documented in my private medical records. I am prescribed various eye drops and get 7 allergy shot injections weekly from an allergist doctor. This of course makes it difficult to wear the medically necessary contacts to see. I have not filed a claim for the conjunctivitis, but did see it a condition that a claim could be filed for. I assume having Keratoconus service connected would increase the odds of the conjunctivitis be granted as service connected. Thoughts?

Thank you for responding. I'm not sure what a C-file is, but I have copies of my military medical records. I honesty don't remember ever getting an eye exam during my enlistment, but its been a long time since I was in. I am 10 percent connected for cystic acne which is documented several times in my military medical records. I was prescribed minocycline which causes increased sensitivity to the sun. One cause of keratoconus is UV exposure. Is that too much of a stretch?

I got out of the military in 2000 after serving in an Airborne Infantry unit for my first enlistment. I was diagnosed with keratoconus in 2012. I submitted a claim with the VA in 2019 with a nexus letter from my eye doctor stating there in no family history of the disease. My eye doctor referenced the research article The Genetic and Environmental Factors for Keratoconus by Ariela Gordon-Shaag which recognizes that environmental factors can lead to keratoconus https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4449900/. She stated in the letter that she considered my keratoconus to be highly influenced by the adverse conditions I faced while on deployment and that those conditions (UV and chemical exposure and unsanitary conditions.) The service connection was denied "since this condition neither occurred in nor was caused by service. The evidence does not show an event, disease or injury in service." My military treatment records show no complaints, treatment, or diagnosis. There was no continuity of symptoms from service to present. I am currently getting statements from my parents eye doctors stating there is no medical history of keratoconus in my family. I also have pictures of me near burning buildings, piles of unexploded old explosives in bombed out buildings, and our sandbagged fighting positions. I have not submitted the pictures. Unfortunately, the disease isn't easily diagnosed and it can take years before it is detected. I never visited an eye doctor for keratoconus while in the service. I understand that the time lapse from getting out of the service until 2012 is a major hurdle to overcome. Question #1 - Does anyone know of any other research articles linking environmental factors to keratoconus? #2 - Should I submit the photos #3 - Any other suggestions #4 - Is it helpful to write a statement myself Thank you for your time and comments