Nuclear cataract

General information

A cataract is an opacity or cloudiness on or in the lens or capsule of the eye. When the opacity is in the central lens nucleus it is called a nuclear cataract.

Diagram of the eye

The cardinal symptom is a progressive, painless loss of vision, usually in middle age. Other symptoms include blurred vision, problems with glare, altered colour perception and double vision when using one eye (monocular diplopia).

If a person had sought medical attention for any sort of cataract this would normally be recorded in doctors' notes and/or hospital records.  However, if these records have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained and there is a reliable history of appropriate symptoms at a particular time, this generally will be accepted, unless there is contradictory evidence.  Seek medical advice if it is unclear whether the claimed symptoms at that time can be attributed to nuclear cataract rather than to some other condition.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 20 AUGUST 2008.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [26105]

26106 there is some evidence that a nuclear cataract may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

26388 the veteran has had a nuclear cataract at some time.

26107 the veteran had a nuclear cataract of side and site of the body at some time.

26108  the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and VEA service for myopia.

26109 the veteran had a nuclear cataract of side and site of the body at the time of the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

26110   the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and VEA service for the clinical onset of myopia.

26113  the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and operational service for the clinical onset of myopia.

or

26114  the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and eligible service for the clinical onset of myopia.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

26111 the veteran had a nuclear cataract of side and site of the body at the time of the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

26112   the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and VEA service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

26115  the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and operational service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

or

26116  the veteran has established the causal connection between the nuclear cataract and eligible service for the clinical worsening of myopia.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [26113]

26117  the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [26114]

26118  the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [26115]

26117  the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related to operational service.

26119 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [26116]

26118  the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related to eligible service.

26120 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the nuclear cataract of side and site of the body is causally related.