Glaucoma decisions — 2007

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current glaucoma disability and there is no competent evidence linking his current condition to service or any service-connected disabilities. Therefore, service connection for bilateral glaucoma is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, cataracts, and glaucoma for purposes of accrued benefits have been denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or the service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and heart disease, as well as his increased rating claims for diabetic neuropathy of the hands and feet, are all denied. The diabetes mellitus remains rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for open angle glaucoma of the right eye is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty and in-active duty training (ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA), and a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected post-operative enucleation of right eye, iritis with sarcoidosis and glaucoma does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains before the Board due to ongoing development.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's glaucoma of the right eye, which may be related to his cataract surgery in November 1997. The case will then be readjudicated.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA ophthalmologist regarding whether the veteran's current eye disability and glaucoma are related to or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and denied an increased rating for his cyst removal residuals. The appeal is pending regarding service connection for glaucoma.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disability is not entitled to a higher rating as his loss of vision is due to non-service-connected glaucoma. The RO previously granted service connection for the right eye disorder and assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's claims of secondary service connection for various conditions, including circulatory disorder, glaucoma, hypertension, kidney disease, interventricular bleeding, residuals of a stroke, and seizure disorder are being granted as they are presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative glaucoma with no light perception in the right eye does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20% assigned, as anatomical loss of the right eye is required for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for primary hyperaldosteronism was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for primary hyperaldosteronism remains July 24, 1995. The veteran's claim for a total schedular evaluation (100 percent) for diabetes mellitus with diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy and glaucoma was granted with an effective date of March 20, 1997.

The veteran is seeking service connection for glaucoma and vision loss, as well as reopening a claim for a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the veteran with proper VCAA notification.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma and dermatitis, both found to be secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy to service or his service-connected right eye retinitis and type II diabetes mellitus, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for primary glaucoma, bilateral, as the veteran's visual acuity is normal and his impairment of field vision does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, glaucoma, and headaches. The decision also referred a claim of increased rating for right knee disability to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and glaucoma of the right eye, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his previously denied claim for paranoid schizophrenia. The glaucoma claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an ophthalmologist examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the claimed glaucoma.

The Board found that the evidence received since the April 1986 rating decision does not present new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for glaucoma.