Glaucoma decisions — 2012

The Veteran's eye disorders, including glaucoma and cataracts, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board denied service connection for these conditions as they are considered congenital defects.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking a higher rating for his right eye pterygium and service connection for left eye disorders, including loss of vision, cataracts, refractive error, glaucoma, and nasal pterygium.

The Veteran's right eye angle recession glaucoma, scarring, visual field defect with amblyopia and open angle glaucoma of the left eye is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that his condition does not warrant a higher rating as it does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation.

The Veteran is granted service connection for a left eye disorder, including glaucoma and amblyopia, which are determined to be related to his in-service flash burn injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his claimed glaucoma.

The Board denied service connection for leukopenia and bilateral glaucoma as there is no evidence of a current disability or chronicity in service.

The Veteran is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected disabilities, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right inguinal hernia, chronic bilateral foot disorder (claimed as bunion/hallux valgus), bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, and benign bilateral adrenal neoplasms due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to negligence in prescribing incorrect eyeglasses is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA ophthalmologist's opinion on the etiology of his glaucoma and whether it was caused by VA carelessness or fault.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a disability of one or both eyes, including left eye optic neuropathy and bilateral cataracts with suspected glaucoma. The Board has ordered a new VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.