Glaucoma decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma is not related to his service or his service-connected jaw disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of direct service connection for glaucoma, lumbar degenerative joint disease, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and chest pain due to a sternum injury. The preponderance of evidence indicated that these conditions were not related to his active service.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on the need for aid and attendance of another person due to his disabilities, including diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, vertigo, and memory loss. His combined nonservice-connected disability rating for pension purposes is 90 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and a higher rating for glaucoma. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current anemia to a service-connected disorder, and concluded that the Veteran's glaucoma warranted a 10% rating based on visual field loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and finds that new evidence supports a finding of in-service onset. The Veteran is therefore entitled to service connection.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy with glaucoma of the bilateral eyes was rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2008 and increased to 40 percent effective from January 15, 2008.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for non-VA hospital treatment on May 20, 2009 are approved because the delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to his life or health and a VA facility was not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not include new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), asthma, and intractable plantar keratoses. The effective dates for the 20% evaluations were not granted.

The Veteran's pre-existing eye conditions (presbyopia corrected with glasses, surgically corrected strabismus) were not aggravated by service. The post-service diagnoses of right eye subretinal neovascularization, retinal detachment, and glaucoma are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including glaucoma of the left eye, bladder cancer, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and residuals of myocardial infarction), and a pulmonary disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find any link between these conditions and exposure to asbestos or other in-service factors.

The Veteran's vision problems, including primary open angle glaucoma and central retinal vein occlusion, were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service. The Board found no evidence of a nexus between the current eye disorders and service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to insufficient opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's eye disorders and his service.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for glaucoma with associated retinal tear has been withdrawn, and the issue is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Goldmann visual field testing and providing a reconciling opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records. The claims on appeal include an increased rating for prostate cancer residuals and T/R based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

Service connection for alcoholism, glaucoma, acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), amoebic dysentery, cockroach bite, cyst on the buttock, and residual sebaceous cyst scar of shoulder is denied.,There is no evidence linking any of these conditions to service or any presumptive exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral chronic open angle glaucoma has resulted in visual acuity of 20/40 bilaterally since October 17, 2002. This does not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under VA regulations.