Glaucoma decisions — 2019

The Veteran's petitions to reopen claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, and glaucoma were denied. The appeals are based on the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye condition and an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, are remanded due to the need for additional development including verification of stressors and VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for toxoplasmosis infection residuals prior to December 18, 2014 and a rating in excess of 20 percent as of December 18, 2014, service connection for glaucoma, and an effective date for service connection for toxoplasmosis infection residuals prior to March 28, 2012. The claims are remanded due to the need for additional medical records and clarification on visual field testing results.

The Veteran's right eye blindness is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether VA carelessness or negligence caused his condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma suspect with visual field defect, finding that the Veteran's current disability is causally related to an in-service injury.

The appeal for service connection of left eye vein occlusion with vision loss and neovascular glaucoma is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for glaucoma and dry eye syndrome/tear film insufficiency, but there are conflicting diagnoses in her records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an addendum opinion addressing his testimony that he started wearing glasses during service and for obtaining all relevant VA treatment records from August 2019 to the present.

The Veteran's right eye open angle glaucoma and left eye traumatic glaucoma were rated at 10 percent prior to April 19, 2016 and at 30 percent thereafter. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on visual acuity or visual field loss.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and an eye condition, finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or other factors linking the conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations and TDIU were withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining private treatment records, verifying in-service stressors, and scheduling a VA mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will provide a VA examination to determine the etiology of these conditions.,The Veteran's hypertension, right ear hearing loss disability, left knee disability, cold injury to the feet, ed (erectile dysfunction), glaucoma, frostbite to the nose and ears, neurological impairment of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and arthritis of bilateral upper and lower extremities are being remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection for a right hip disability, gastrointestinal disability (including irritable bowel syndrome), and gastroesophageal reflux disease. The Veteran's left eye disability, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, right knee surgical scar, left knee surgical scar, thoracic spine disability, and residuals of left total knee replacement are not service-connected.

The Veteran's prostate disorder, sleep apnea, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, hypertension, and cognitive disorder were not shown during service or within a year of discharge.,Service connection for these conditions is denied as the evidence does not establish that they are related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and the Board is unable to make a determination without an additional VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his glaucoma had an onset in service. As a result, service connection for glaucoma is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's loss of vision. The AOJ is instructed to arrange for a neuro-ophthalmic evaluation and obtain an adequate medical opinion addressing all current eye conditions causing visual impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II, glaucoma, a renal disability (presumably a kidney condition), an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD), and sinusitis due to unclear service connection determinations and insufficient medical opinions. The Veteran's exposure is not presumed based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to missing portions of the Veteran's claims file and unclear information regarding his exposure to herbicide agents. The location of the Veteran’s ship while stationed is also needed, as are addendum opinions on the relationship between the Veteran's injuries and his disabilities.