Glaucoma decisions — 2016

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma is not related to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus or otherwise medically related to his military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination of the Veteran's eyes and collection of any outstanding VA treatment records related to his eye conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and inadequate VA examination opinions. The Veteran's right eye disabilities, including glaucoma and cataract, are being reviewed for direct service connection or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50% since the entire period on appeal, with very frequent prostrating and prolonged attacks causing severe economic inadaptability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for his right and left eye conditions, finding that they did not clearly and unmistakably preexist his service or were otherwise causally related to such. The current diagnoses of cataracts, glaucoma, interstitial keratitis in both eyes are considered unrelated to exposure to chemicals during service.

The Veteran's claim for a special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance was denied as he is not helpless or so nearly helpless that he requires the regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an updated VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's eye disability, including glaucoma and superficial injury of the left cornea. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining a new VA examination for his left knee disability and issuing supplemental statements of the case addressing all issues on appeal.

The Board has remanded the claim for additional development due to insufficient examination and lack of a detailed history from the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance is granted effective October 28, 2009. The evidence shows that the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to multiple disabling conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and glaucoma prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability and bilateral knee disorder were not incurred in service, and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Veteran's conditions, including diabetes and its related complications, are not service connected. The Board denied the claims for service connection based on lack of evidence showing onset or causation in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional VA and private treatment records, as well as vocational rehabilitation records. He will also be scheduled for examinations related to his diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and glaucoma.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his inability to attend the scheduled hearing in Washington, D.C. He will be rescheduled for a videoconference hearing at the local RO.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma of both eyes and venous insufficiency of bilateral lower extremities, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran is entitled to an additional monthly allowance of SMC at the rate under subsection (r)(1) based on his service-connected Multiple Sclerosis and need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's room and board costs at Pueblo Regent from September 30, 2010 through December 2011 may be included as an unreimbursed medical expense for the purpose of computing his eligibility to receive special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.