Glaucoma decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board also found no direct service connection as there were no records of glaucoma during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral eye disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the service-connected primary open angle glaucoma with blindness did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's left eye glaucoma is etiologically related to his active duty service or caused by, alternatively aggravated, by his service-connected TBI and/or service-connected right eye disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected hypothyroidism, glaucoma with cataracts, and left thumb disability. The evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right eye disability, specifically glaucoma, is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's left eye disability, characterized by aphakia and glaucoma, is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his vision in the non-service-connected right eye is sufficient to prevent an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteopenia, cervical spine disorder, eye disorders (including cataracts and glaucoma), cholesterol disorder, and back disorder are denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings were denied. The bilateral eye disability, atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran's open angle glaucoma has been rated at 20 percent since December 22, 2007. This rating is based on visual field impairment and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to visual acuity or other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disabilities, including glaucoma and cataracts, are not related to his service, specifically a gunpowder injury in November 1961. The preponderance of evidence is against these claims.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a left hip disorder and granted service connection for uveitis of both eyes as secondary to sarcoidosis, with vision loss in the left eye due to uveitic glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's eye disorder, to include glaucoma and decreased visual acuity, permanently progressed at an abnormally high rate due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy, hydrocephalus, and posttraumatic vertigo due to lack of evidence showing a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right eye glaucoma had its onset during service and grants entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's TBI prior to October 23, 2008 is manifested by purely subjective complaints such as headaches and weakness associated with syringomyelia. No objective neurological deficits or diagnoses have been established.

The Veteran's service-connected aggravation of eye disabilities has been granted a rating of 40 percent, effective from November 5, 2015. The initial ratings for the periods prior to and after this date have also been determined.