Glaucoma decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected right eye disabilities, headaches, and adjustment disorder with depressed mood do not preclude substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance, but not to a certificate of eligibility for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance, or adaptive equipment.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, residuals of a stroke, sleep apnea, and circulatory disorder of the legs. The initial rating for left thoracic radiculopathy was also denied.

The veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for glaucoma of the left eye, as the minimal disability rating for this condition is 10 percent.

The veteran's son, D.C., was not shown to have been permanently incapable of self-support by reason of a mental or physical condition prior to attaining the age of 18.

The Board granted service connection for multiple sclerosis, on a presumptive basis.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or service connection.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and reduced the ratings for degenerative joint disease of the right knee, left knee, and lumbar spine from 20 to 10 percent effective July 1, 2008. The reduction was proper for the right and left knees but not for the lumbar spine.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, bilateral eye disability other than glaucoma, PTSD, residuals of a broken neck with vocal cord injury, and residuals of head injury.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, blepharitis, and allergic rhinitis as the evidence did not support a conclusion that these conditions were related to the veteran's active duty service.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, kidney stones, and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, to include glaucoma, as there was no credible evidence of an injury in service.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, finding no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to his military service.

The Board remands the case to obtain an opinion regarding whether the erectile dysfunction was aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The appeal was dismissed due to the veteran's death.

The case is remanded for further development and readjudication of the veteran's claims.

The veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher disability rating or establish service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for glaucoma is being remanded to schedule a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma preexisted her military service and was not aggravated by it. The veteran's bilateral foot disorder, including pes planus and plantar warts, is presumed to have been aggravated by her military service. The veteran's hypertension does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation. The veteran's left knee osteoarthritis does not warrant an initial disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.,The veteran's preexisting bilateral foot disorder was aggravated during active military service.

The veteran's glaucoma was not medically linked either directly to his military service or secondarily to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.