Glaucoma decisions — 2018

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's right eye disability and ED.

The Veteran has been diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma, which is aggravated by a previously service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus). The Board finds that the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for chest pain, bilateral eye disorder with glaucoma and periorbital swelling, and bunions due to lack of compliance with previous remand orders. The VA examinations are required to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability has been reopened and granted. The Veteran's anxiety disorder not otherwise specified is also now considered to be related to active service.,Service connection was denied for myalgia of the chest, angle recession glaucoma, and prostate condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder is granted with an effective date of February 18, 2013. The issue of secondary service connection for glaucoma due to TBI is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, eye cataracts, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions began during active service or were related to in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and glaucoma (secondary to diabetes) based on the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving in Korea, leading to presumptive service connection for diabetes. Glaucoma is considered secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to insufficient evidence of total disability.

The Veteran's daughter, J.N., is entitled to recognition as a helpless child due to her permanent incapacity for self-support caused by epilepsy and glaucoma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are not supported by the evidence of record and have been denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's glaucoma is related to service or his service-connected chalazion.

The Veteran's right eye disabilities have not resulted in the required visual impairment to warrant a higher rating. The Board denied his claims for increased ratings and TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an enlarged heart or glaucoma, and service connection for these conditions cannot be granted. The effective date of service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD is denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis or relationship to service. The claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for glaucoma is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and securing updated VA treatment records. The AOJ will also obtain SSA records and determine if any of the claimed disabilities are related to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for head injury, bilateral leg sciatica, disability manifested by motion sickness and dizziness, tinnitus, bilateral glaucoma, bilateral cataracts, left eye detached retina (secondary to left eye cataracts), left hand disability (secondary to neck disability), right hand disability (secondary to neck disability), bilateral shoulder disability (secondary to neck disability), joint disability, neck disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (posttraumatic stress disorder) (secondary to service-connected lumbar spine disability), and sleep apnea have been denied. The Veteran withdrew these claims during his Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for status-post left great toe trauma, left Achilles tendonitis, and right eye glaucoma was granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for right eye glaucoma is set at September 1, 2004.