Glaucoma decisions — 2016

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to active service, and the claim for service connection for this condition is granted. The claims for bilateral eye disability and right knee disability are remanded for further examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, hallux valgus deformity of the left foot, right foot disability, bilateral glaucoma, asthma, and erectile dysfunction are not related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disabilities, including glaucoma, cataracts, and ptosis, are not related to his military service or a service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for the service connection of various conditions has been dismissed as there is no valid claim to consider due to the finality of previous decisions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on the basis of exposure to ionizing radiation during active service was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding these issues.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any eye disorder that may be present. The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is being considered as the primary cause or aggravation factor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current eye disabilities, including bilateral proliferative diabetic retinopathy, bilateral neovascular glaucoma, bilateral pseudophakia, left eye abnormal pupil, and left eye superficial punctate keratitis, are not related to his active service. The in-service left eye injuries did not cause or aggravate any of the currently diagnosed eye disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma was denied as there is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease, and the current disability does not appear to be related to his active service. The claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder and hepatitis C were also denied.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 10 percent, and his claims for service connection for TBI and suspected glaucoma were denied. The claim for higher evaluation of the lumbar spine disability was not granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete verification of the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and ionizing radiation, as well as a need for further examination regarding his claimed conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's disabilities of the eyes, including Fuchs heterochromic uveitis and iridocyclitis (Fuchs), complications of glaucoma, cataracts, vitreous degeneration and retinal detachment, as due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, effective June 10, 2014. The Board finds that a higher rating of 70 percent is warranted for his PTSD due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation and near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA eye examination and dose estimate of ionizing radiation exposure during service. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for retained shell fragments in his left leg and foot, as well as an eye disability to include glaucoma. The issues of bilateral hearing loss disability and pseudofolliculitis barbae remain pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including left eye blindness and bilateral glaucoma, was not incurred in service or related to service. The disabilities were also not caused or aggravated by his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal insufficiency, bilateral cataracts, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction, do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence showing herbicide exposure during his service aboard the USS Constellation, and thus, he is not entitled to the presumption of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's glaucoma is found to have originated during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disability remains pending as it was not addressed in the decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating beyond the June 30, 2008 evaluation was dismissed as he expressed satisfaction with that evaluation. The Board granted a temporary total disability rating extension to July 31, 2008 based on post-surgical convalescence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his service-connected glaucoma.