Glaucoma decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and a need for further examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection are pending.

The Veteran's appeals have been dismissed as he and his representative withdrew their appeals in writing.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The claim for a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss disability was not granted, as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus was also denied due to the maximum schedular rating already assigned.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma is not shown to have been present in service or for many years thereafter, nor is it shown to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosis of diabetes or glaucoma, and the left shoulder and neck disorders are not related to service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for glaucoma and other conditions, but his application for S-DVI was deemed untimely due to a temporary mental incompetency resulting from medical treatment. The Board found that the evidence satisfied the requirement of satisfactory evidence of mental incapacity during any part of the two-year period following the April 2011 rating decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination and addressing the Veteran's claims regarding his vision loss. The examiner is to provide an opinion on whether any current eye disability is related to service, particularly tuberculosis.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, an acquired psychiatric disability, and other conditions. The Veteran appealed these decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (Veterans Court), which granted a joint motion vacating the May 2009 decision denying service connection for glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disability and remanded those issues to the Board.

The Veteran's low back disability, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, skin cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, glaucoma, and cataracts are all found to be related to his service due to radiation exposure.

The Veteran's GERD has been rated at 10 percent since the effective date of service connection, and his left hip disability is currently rated as noncompensable. The Veteran's restless leg syndrome has been assigned a 10 percent rating.,The Veteran's initial increased ratings for GERD, left hip disability, and restless leg syndrome have been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for glaucoma as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The new opinion should discuss additional medical literature submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's petition to reopen a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral tinea pedis with onychomycosis was granted. However, the Board found that there is no evidence showing that his service-connected disabilities precluded him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his TDIU claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death, and whether his suicide was related to his severe chronic pain.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, PTSD, and nuclear sclerotic cataracts were all denied. The evidence did not establish a link between the conditions and service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claimed disabilities of ischemic heart disease, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and glaucoma are not service-connected as they were not incurred in or aggravated by active military service.,Service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected allergic rhinitis. The Board has granted this claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder was granted. The issue of service connection for a left knee disorder is pending and will be decided after the VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and determining whether any of the appellant's claimed disabilities are related to his military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's service from August 1968 to August 1974 was under dishonorable conditions, and thus his second period of service is a bar to VA benefits related to this period. The criteria for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, CAD, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension or bilateral hearing loss are not met.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.