Glaucoma decisions — 2013

The Veteran's bilateral leg disorder, currently diagnosed as peripheral neuropathy, is found to be causally related to service. The Veteran's glaucoma is not secondary to his diabetes or due to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's right thumb ulnar subluxation is rated at 10 percent, effective July 1, 2007. The other conditions are not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to service and have denied his claims for service connection.

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

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for traumatic glaucoma with bone white cataract, left eye blindness, and partial left retinal detachment.

The Veteran's glaucoma resulted in a bilateral visual field contraction between 45 and 30 degrees since March 16, 2013. The VA has granted an initial disability rating of 30 percent for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current visual disorders are related to service or other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, retinopathy, open-angle glaucoma, cataracts, congestive heart failure, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptomatology for any of these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disorders (glaucoma and cataracts) are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia disability is not service-connected as there was no evidence of a pre-existing condition during service and the current condition did not manifest until after discharge. The other issues were either not addressed or are not supported by sufficient evidence.

The Veteran seeks service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2 and glaucoma. The claim is being remanded to obtain additional evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy was rated at 50 percent effective April 21, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a factually informed, medically competent and fully explained medical opinion regarding the Veteran's right eye disability.

The Veteran's right eye disability, characterized by no more than light perception, is currently rated at 30 percent.,His headaches are currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board has determined that there is at least a 50% likelihood that the Veteran's glaucoma was incurred during his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to allow for additional development and consideration of his claims, including a VA examination to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disability, hypertension, and ulcerative colitis are not service-connected. The evidence does not establish a direct relationship to military service or secondary to a service-connected condition.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's decreased visual acuity, including glaucoma and cataracts. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether any current eye disorder is proximately due to or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 and/or coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for right eye aphakia, glaucoma and cataract, status-post removal. The claim was reopened due to new evidence presented.,Service connection is also granted for right eye glaucoma and cataract, status-post removal, as the condition is related to a reported in-service injury.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records from the Dublin VAMC. The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral glaucoma will be reconsidered after these records are obtained.