Glaucoma decisions — 2008

The Board denied the claim for increase in glaucoma rating, maintaining a current 40 percent rating.

The veteran's left foot disability, which was previously rated at 20 percent, is now restored to a 30 percent rating effective May 1, 2006. The right knee disability remains rated at 30 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma due to new evidence submitted. However, it was determined that glaucoma is not related to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a right thumb disability, right knee arthralgia and gout, right eye glaucoma, and DDD of the lumbar spine as there is no evidence of an in-service injury or chronic condition that could be linked to these disabilities.

The veteran's claim for service connection has been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board finds that his preexisting right eye conditions were aggravated by sand exposure during service, leading to the loss of his right eye.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for separate compensable ratings for a cataract and glaucoma, currently evaluated with status post penetrating keratoplasty for keratoconus in his left eye. The disability is secondary to service-connected Graves disease.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they are not attributable to military service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma and hypertension were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The veteran seeks service connection for severe open angle glaucomatous optic nerve atrophy. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions and evidence regarding the nature, extent, onset, and etiology of any glaucoma found in the veteran's case.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's glaucoma was caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or error. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have service connection for hypertension or a bilateral eye disorder, including glaucoma. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to these conditions.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of medical nexus opinions and inadequate VA examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, erectile dysfunction, and glaucoma. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that an effective date of June 28, 1993 is granted for the grant of a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and loss of vision in the left eye, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the glaucoma claim and concluding that there was no evidence showing a direct or aggravation relationship between his current conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's additional eye disability, manifested by vision loss, was a result of right eye surgeries performed at VA medical facilities in April and June 1996. The claim is granted.

The Board found that the appellant's current diagnosis of end-stage bilateral glaucoma was not incurred during his period of active service, including ACDUTRA. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran's service-connected glaucoma is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted based on the visual acuity and field loss findings.

The Board denied service connection for a chronic cough and remanded the issue of service connection for glaucoma. The veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and lumbosacral strain with DJD are currently pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma and intervertebral disc syndrome were not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service. The Board also found that arthritis of the spine was not compensably disabling within a year of his separation from active duty.