Glaucoma decisions — 2015

The Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, for which service connection has already been established.,Prostate cancer was not incurred in or as a result of service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.,Glaucoma is not etiologically related to service.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma is not related to his service, including exposure to environmental hazards in the Gulf War. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's right eye conditions, including diminished visual acuity and traumatic optic neuropathy, were not incurred or aggravated by active service. Cataracts and open angle glaucoma are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's increased rating claims for his left knee disability and bilateral pigmentary glaucoma were denied. The Veteran was not granted any additional ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's heart disease is not related to service or his service-connected sarcoidosis, and thus denied the claim for service connection. The ratings for sarcoidosis and glaucoma are also denied.

The Veteran's right eye disability is rated at a 100 percent disability rating due to the combination of service-connected and nonservice-connected visual impairment. The Veteran's depressive disorder is also rated at a 100 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma and tension headaches, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are not related to his service-connected Raynaud's Disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma did not have its onset in service or for many years thereafter, and it is not proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for a new VA examination to evaluate the level of functional impairment caused by the Veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities, including diabetes with possible peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, depression, hypertension, and various orthopedic disabilities affecting the knees, hands, and feet.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development, specifically requesting a new VA eye disorders examination by an appropriate examiner other than those who have thus far evaluated him. The Veteran is also asked to provide any outstanding private medical records from Dr. Cox.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a left eye injury with secondary glaucoma, disability exhibited by epistaxis, and periodontal disease. The Veteran's claims were remanded for additional development and the issues have now been adjudicated.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides and to obtain his complete VA treatment records. The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded for a new VA examination regarding his vestibular disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and any SSA records. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of all issues on appeal due to satisfaction with her current 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen her claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and found that new evidence received since the October 2011 rating decision raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating her claim. The appeal is granted to this extent only.

The Board has determined that the appellant's bilateral hearing loss is service-connected, as it meets VA requirements for consideration as a disability and there is in-service acoustic trauma. The right eye disabilities are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA eye examination and obtaining updated medical records. The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts as secondary to service-connected hypertension is pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and a rating in excess of 10 percent for left index finger disorder. The evidence did not support a finding that the glaucoma was related to service or service-connected conditions, nor did it show that the left index finger disorder warranted an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing clarifying opinions from a VA examiner regarding the Veteran's claims of service connection for upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, glaucoma, and cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the issuance of a Statement of the Case on all issues related to his claims, including an increased rating for athlete's foot and reopening previously denied claims.