Glaucoma decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The specific issues of service connection are not addressed as they are not about service connection at all.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before a decision can be made on the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye blindness and psychiatric disorder are not related to service. The right eye disability is considered a congenital defect, while the psychiatric disorder became manifest many years after service.

The Veteran's eye disability (glaucoma and cataracts) is found to be secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The peripheral neuropathy of both upper extremities is also found to be secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a right ear hearing loss disability and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of glaucoma was remanded but no further action has been taken.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's glaucoma.

The Veteran's deep vein thrombosis with pulmonary embolism is found to have been incurred during active duty service.,Service connection for an eye disorder is not warranted as the Veteran does not have a diagnosed eye condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. His right leg PVD was rated at 20 percent prior to September 2011 and 60 percent thereafter, his left leg PVD was rated at 20 percent prior to September 2011 and 60 percent thereafter, his erectile dysfunction is rated noncompensably (0%), and his bilateral nuclear cataracts and open angle glaucoma are each rated at 10 percent. The Veteran's TDIU claim was not listed as an issue.

The Board has determined that a chronic eye disability, including Acanthamoeba keratitis of the right eye and cataract extraction and glaucoma of the left eye, was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service.

The Veteran's eye disorders, other than his service-connected right corneal scar, were not shown in service or for many years thereafter and are not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the record, including a new VA eye examination to assess his service-connected Sjorgren's disease with dry eye symptoms.

The Veteran's kidney disability is not service-connected, but his diabetes mellitus with cataracts and glaucoma are granted at a 20 percent rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for scheduling a Board video-conference hearing.

The Veteran's PTSD is found to be aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, and he is granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his PTSD. The claim for hypertension remains pending but not decided in this decision.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are necessary to clarify the Veteran's periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA in the Army National Guard. The case is REMANDED for obtaining VA treatment records since April 2015, authorization for Cook Medical Center records, and verification of service dates.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and VA medical records. The issues of service connection for various conditions are to be reconsidered.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board making a decision.

The Veteran's tinnitus and lumbar spine disability are presumed to have been incurred in service. The right eye cataract, left eye cataract, and glaucoma claims are granted as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right eye blindness and glaucoma are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma is likely to have been present during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.