Glaucoma decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for Parkinson’s disease and remanded other issues due to insufficient evidence. Service connection was granted for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, as well as glaucoma (eye disability), paronychia/onychia, sleep apnea, colon polyps, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and hypothyroidism.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma, including whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to outstanding treatment records and a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected noncongestive glaucoma.

The appeal to reopen the claim for service connection for glaucoma is denied.,Service connection for a skin condition (claimed as cyst on the groin) is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is currently rated at 10 percent, which is the minimum rating available under DC 7101. The effective date for this grant of service connection remains May 12, 2012.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has experienced continuity of symptomatology related to tinnitus since service and grants service connection for this condition. The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its onset in service.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for glaucoma due to incomplete records from VA treatment. The appellant will need to provide additional medical evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an initial disability rating for migraine headaches and related issues, as well as his TDIU claim. The Veteran needs to be provided with a VA examination to assess the severity of his migraine/tension headaches.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The issue of service connection for glaucoma, diabetes mellitus, and dental condition remains unresolved.

The Veteran's service connection for branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is granted. The appeal regarding other eye disabilities and a respiratory/pulmonary disorder is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disorder and disability manifested by swelling in the lower extremities, to include as secondary to service-connected hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation for the period on appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA medical records from South Carolina VA facilities not yet associated with his case file. The AOJ is instructed to obtain and review these records, issue a new Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC), and then adjudicate the claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient examination reports and lack of private treatment records. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for dyslipidemia as it is a laboratory finding, not a disability. Other issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to unclear diagnoses and outstanding records. The Veteran's eye disorders need further clarification and examination.

The Board has decided that the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits is remanded due to errors on her Financial Status Report (VA Form 5655). The AOJ must obtain an updated VA Form 5655 from the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability other than residuals of corneal abrasions, dry eye syndrome, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between her current glaucoma and cataracts and her military service.

The Veteran's eye disability is presumed to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. However, there is no evidence that the current vision loss and glaucoma are directly related to his military service.,The Veteran's right knee disability may be related to combat activities in Vietnam, but a VA examination is needed to determine if this condition has a causal relationship with his service.

The Board has determined that the grant of service connection for bilateral glaucoma was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous, thus restoring the benefit.

The Board denied service connection for a bilateral hip disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition is not related to his service or service-connected back disability. The case was remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma.,Service connection for bilateral glaucoma remains pending as the Board has ordered additional development.