Glaucoma decisions — 2016

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for peripheral neuropathy and glaucoma, as well as his claim for an increased rating for hypertension. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed eye disorders, including POAG and other conditions, are not shown to be related to military service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran is in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person due to her conditions, including chronic obstructive airway disease, COPD, morbid obesity, osteoarthritis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, macular degenerative, and glaucoma. She requires assistance with activities such as transferring, walking, climbing stairs, shopping, cooking, housework, laundry, and taking her medications.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's loss of eyesight and glaucoma are not service-connected, nor can they be recognized as an additional disability under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to medications prescribed by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left eye disabilities, including blindness, glaucoma, and retinal detachment, are not service-connected. The preexisting partial retinal detachment was found to be a result of a childhood injury, which is considered sound at entry into service. There is no clear evidence of aggravation during service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including an addendum opinion on the etiology of glaucoma and a SOC regarding the rating for anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's alleged herbicide exposure in Japan, and then to readjudicate his service connection claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not cause his death, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's glaucoma is service-connected as it resulted from a traumatic injury in service. The left arm disability, diagnosed as arthritis of the elbow, was determined to have existed prior to service and not aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA eye examination to address whether glaucoma is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral diabetic retinopathy and denied service connection for glaucoma. Bilateral diabetic retinopathy is found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, while glaucoma is not proximately due to or aggravated by diabetes.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a throat condition, asthma, and glaucoma due to alleged mustard gas exposure in service. The new evidence submitted does not provide sufficient material evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's diagnosed bilateral eye disabilities, including optic nerve atrophy and glaucoma, are related to her service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board has granted service connection for a liver disorder (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) as secondary to service-connected diabetes. The issue of glaucoma is remanded, and the issue of prostatic hypertrophy requires issuance of a statement of the case.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction is rated at 20 percent, and the reduction of his diabetic retinopathy rating from 10% to noncompensable effective November 9, 2009 was proper. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated as 10%, and his diabetic nephropathy associated with diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction prior to January 28, 2015 is rated at 60%. His peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity and right lower extremity are each rated at 10%. The Veteran's hypertension is not separately service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for sarcoidosis and glaucoma has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple disabilities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy. The Board finds that these conditions render the Veteran unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, cataracts, and upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and is not related to his diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for service connection for glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current eye disabilities.