Glaucoma decisions — 2009

The Veteran's uveitis and cataract with glaucoma, left eye are currently manifest by legal blindness in the left eye, pain, and pressure. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct. However, the Veteran did not meet the durational requirement for a total disability rating in existence during his lifetime under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318. The only service-connected condition (Behcet's Disease with glaucoma) rated at 100% disabling since June 6, 2005 did not meet the duration requirements for a total disability rating.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to his age and multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. H and scheduling a VA ophthalmology examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of his service connection and disability rating issues.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability results in vision limited to no worse than 20/40, with no significant impairment of field of vision. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and left eye disorder (glaucoma) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asymmetric glaucoma and early cataract of the left eye (claimed as nerve damage) is being remanded due to a lack of available service records. The Board will seek additional development, including scheduling an examination, to determine if there is a relationship between the current left eye disorders and the Veteran's period of active service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and glaucoma. The Board finds that his current depression is related to his military service, specifically due to the negative impact of his glaucoma on his vision. His glaucoma was not aggravated by his service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate development of medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's right eye glaucoma and nuclear cataracts.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's spouse is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to her various disabilities, as she can perform most self-care and activities of daily living with some assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background, as she is currently working as a home health nurse for two different agencies.

The Veteran's neurodermatitis was found to be less than 5% of the total body or exposed area affected, and no systemic therapy was required. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active duty service. The right eye pterygium claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for pigmentary glaucoma and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral glaucoma and right eye uveitis with immature cataract disability was rated at 50 percent since January 29, 2008. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any claimed condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted his entry into active service.

The Veteran's claimed glaucoma and coronary vasospasm are not found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.