Glaucoma decisions — 2008

The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of glaucoma and concluded that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy did not cause or aggravate his diagnosed glaucoma. Therefore, service connection for glaucoma secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus was denied.

The Board found no evidence of cardiovascular disease, degenerative joint disease, glaucoma or ulcerated stomach during the veteran's active service period from November 1954 to November 1956. The claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from November 20, 2003 to November 21, 2003 is granted due to the lack of suitable VA facilities.

The veteran's pre-existing glaucoma of the right eye was aggravated by service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diagnosed left eye occlusion and bilateral glaucoma, a bilateral foot fungus, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The conditions were not related to his military service or any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's primary open-angle glaucoma did not manifest during service and is unrelated to his diabetes mellitus, which precludes service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's astigmatism, cataracts, and glaucoma are not etiologically related to his in-service left eye injury.

The Board denied an increased rating greater than 40 percent for a left eye injury, finding that the veteran's current condition does not warrant such a higher rating.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to fully and fairly consider the veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the etiology of his right eye disorder, sinusitis, and gastroenteritis.

The veteran's appeal for increased ratings for uveitis and secondary glaucoma, as well as the residuals of a left wrist ganglion, was denied by the Board. The maximum schedular rating for the service-connected disabilities has been granted.

The veteran's claim to reopen his right eye disorder, claimed as traumatic cataract and glaucoma, is being remanded due to the need for proper notice under the previous version of 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(a).

The veteran's claims are being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and attempting to locate service medical records. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The veteran is seeking service connection for glaucoma. The RO has been instructed to obtain her medical records, verify her periods of active duty and training, and schedule a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of her eye condition.

The veteran's cervical and thoracolumbar spine disabilities, bilateral eye conditions (including cataracts and glaucoma), blurred vision of the left eye, concussion, peripheral vestibular disorder, tinnitus, and depression are not related to his military service. The veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities that would allow him to be granted a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board granted service connection for glaucoma, a bilateral eye disorder. However, the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his low back disability was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination. The veteran is asked to provide information about his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The veteran's decreased visual acuity in the left eye following cataract extraction and vitrectomy was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right corneal transplant with glaucoma, effective from March 12, 1996.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected primary open-angle glaucoma.