Glaucoma decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA ophthalmological examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right knee disabilities, diabetes (claimed as borderline diabetes), neuropathy of the hands and upper extremities, neuropathy of the feet and lower extremities, and glaucoma were denied. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's case is being remanded for additional development to obtain recent medical records from the Des Moines VA Medical Center and any private eye surgeon who has treated his service-connected right eye disability since December 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of his glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected Krukenberg's Spindles of the bilateral eyes with primary open angle glaucoma was denied. The RO assigned staged ratings, but the most recent rating (90%) is still denied.

The Veteran's service-connected glaucoma was found to not warrant an increased rating prior to March 9, 2011 and from March 9, 2011 onwards. The current ratings are deemed insufficient.

The Veteran is found to be in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to his service-connected PTSD and bilateral eye disorder.

The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and an examination, is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye disorder.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal regarding his claims of entitlement to service connection for a chronic back disability, a chronic left and right hip disability, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, and a chronic ophthalmological disorder (claimed as primary open-angle glaucoma). The claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for PTSD is being remanded.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current diagnosed glaucoma is related to her service and grants her claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered a new VA examination to address the nature and etiology of any diagnosed eye disorders, including those dated during the appeal period. The Veteran's claims for service connection for dermatochalasis, blepharoptosis of the upper eyelids, blepharitis of the eyelids, and glaucoma are remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected left eye disability, rated at 30 percent, did not warrant a higher rating. He is also not entitled to an increased SMC rate based on loss of use of vision in the service-connected left eye.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings on diabetes mellitus with diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma have been resolved in his favor. The claims are dismissed as the Veteran has withdrawn them.

The Veteran's glaucoma and a scar on his left foot from shrapnel wounds are granted as service-connected. Glaucoma is not related to service, while the scar is directly related.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and residuals of a claimed acute myocardial infarction or transient ischemic attacks. The Veteran's current disability is not related to his military service, herbicide exposure, or service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including an examination to evaluate his glaucoma and determine if he qualifies for a special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including new VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities and updated treatment records. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran asserts that he incurred a head injury in service, which resulted in blindness for several days and is now diagnosed with glaucoma. The Board finds the incident as described by the Veteran to be presumed accurate due to his combat status in Vietnam. However, records from the hospital ship are not available, and further examination is needed to determine if the current diagnosis of glaucoma is related to service.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability and that any past episode of high intraocular pressure was resolved with treatment.