Glaucoma decisions — 2018

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral eye cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2. The issues of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus, service connection for glaucoma and hypertension, and service connection for erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, heart disorder, and prostate cancer claimed as due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active duty.

Service connection is granted for traumatic angle recession glaucoma of the left eye. Service connection is denied for glaucoma of the right eye and scar of either eye.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (as secondary to diabetes), respiratory allergies disability, heart disability, and hypertension as there was no evidence of a link between these conditions and active service.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, and the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, TDIU, a back disability, and an eye disability (glaucoma) are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied service connection for open angle glaucoma as there was no in-service event, injury, or disease related to the condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and denied service connection for bilateral cataracts, refractive error (including astigmatism and presbyopia), and increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's current disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at noncompensable.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and bilateral cataracts as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, and hypertension as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's combined rating may be adjusted so as to meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU once the disability ratings and effective dates for these conditions are implemented.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, major depressive disorder, and sleep apnea has been granted. The claims are remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection is established for major depressive disorder as secondary to a service-connected condition (major depressive disorder). Service connection is also established for sleep apnea as secondary to major depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including sleep apnea, glaucoma, cataracts and presbyopia, orthostatic dizziness (vertigo), hypertension, and acid reflux. The claims are also being remanded for a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD.

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis of glaucoma is not related to his service-connected diabetes. Service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities is remanded due to conflicting diagnoses.

The Veteran's claims for Bell’s palsy, right eye glaucoma, bilateral weak ankles, and sinusitis were all denied as there was no new and material evidence received to reopen the claims.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for open angle glaucoma was denied due to lack of evidence. The Board found no new and material evidence since the previous denial, thus denying the reopening of this issue. The claim for secondary service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the service connection claims, as there are limited VA treatment records from the relevant time period. The Veteran's disabilities have been treated at the Leavenworth VA Medical Center since 2001.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining visual field test results from VISTA IMAGING.

The Board denied service connection for unspecified open angle glaucoma and hearing loss, finding no evidence of a link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, and lung disorder.

The Board granted service connection for migraine headaches as aggravated by a service-connected disability (tinnitus). The claim for sleep apnea was denied. The Veteran's glaucoma of the left eye is currently rated at 10 percent and no higher rating or extraschedular consideration is warranted. The earlier effective date claims were also denied.

Service connection for glaucoma and bilateral hearing loss is denied.,The claim for service connection for a skin condition of the face and back, to include pseudofolliculitis barbae/acne folliculitis barbae or chloracne or PCT was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD and MDD is granted as it has been reopened.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for glaucoma due to new and material evidence. However, the issue is remanded as there are unresolved questions regarding whether glaucoma is related to TBI or if it was aggravated by TBI.