Glaucoma decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also remanded the case for a determination on whether the Veteran's bilateral eye disorder is related to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of mild degenerative joint disease with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was denied. The effective date for the award of service connection for a cervical spine disability is September 1, 1996. The Veteran's left upper extremity radiculopathy and right upper extremity radiculopathy are associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability. Service connection for glaucoma has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and clarification due to conflicting evidence regarding when the Veteran filed a notice of disagreement (NOD) with the November 1998 rating decision denying service connection for bilateral glaucoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. The case is remanded for further development regarding the glaucoma rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retinopathy as secondary to hypertension has been granted.,However, the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and osteopenia as secondary to hypertension have been denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for left eye glaucoma, hypertension, and coronary artery disease (CAD) as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims of ischemic heart disease and hypertension, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, are stayed pending the effective date of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019.,Right eye vision loss due to a residual scar from a foreign body is granted. Right eye vision loss due to glaucoma (as 95 percent of total vision loss) and right hand DJD are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision disability and glaucoma, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar paravertebral myositis, degenerative osteoarthritis of the left knee, and other musculoskeletal conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on these disabilities.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred at Carolinas HealthCare System University Emergency Room on September 2, 2016 due to the absence of an emergency condition and feasible availability of VA facilities.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims of service connection for bilateral primary open angle glaucoma, high cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, and schizophrenia.

The Board has granted service connection for traumatic optic neuropathy glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his in-service motorcycle accident.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety disorder) as there is no evidence of a direct causal relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma and hypertensive retinopathy have been rated at 20 percent since March 9, 2019. The rating is granted as the condition has resulted in visual acuity of 20/40 or better bilaterally.

The Veteran's claims for dizziness, type 2 diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and left testicle condition have all been denied as there is no current evidence of these conditions.,There are no service-connected disabilities related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.

Service connection is granted for diabetes mellitus, type II and prostate cancer to include as secondary to herbicide exposure.,Service connection is granted for eye disability (glaucoma) and skin disability to include service-connected disabilities or herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to additional VA treatment records and an addendum opinion on the pathology of the Veteran's visual impairment, as well as the etiology of his glaucoma and dry eye syndrome.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining missing service treatment records from the Veteran's National Guard service period and seeking medical opinions to address the etiology of his bilateral shoulder, low back, and bilateral eye disabilities.