Glaucoma decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete compliance with prior remand instructions regarding the need for an addendum opinion on whether the Veteran's diabetes mellitus caused or aggravated his legal blindness and eye conditions.

The appeal for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for bilateral iritis/uveitis, secondary glaucoma and cataracts, and left eye retinal detachment with diplopia is dismissed due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for digestive, prostate, bladder incontinence, renal, glucose fasting impairment, hernia condition, peripheral vascular disease, and glaucoma disabilities due to potential service connection issues. Additional medical opinions are needed regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and thus the claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability, including glaucoma and dry eye, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current conditions and her military service.

The Board has expanded the Veteran's claim to include any eye disability and remanded for further action. The case is now being returned to the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including blindness, glaucoma, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, shoulder pain, elbow and wrist swelling, toe numbness, leg numbness, jaw joint pain, hip joint swelling, knee and ankle pain, bilateral pes planus, foot bunions, rib fracture discomfort, hand weakness, left hand swelling, tonsillitis, dizzy spells, fatigue, pharyngitis, allergy disorder, breathing disorder, sleep apnea, heart condition, ulcer, gastritis, gastrointestinal problems, GERD, kidney disorder, lipoma, obesity, arm numbness and pain, and finger numbness. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection for these conditions.,The Veteran's TBI claim is also denied as there was no in-service head injury or related condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye conditions and whether they are related to service or his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's left knee disability, including limitation of motion and instability, is rated at 30 percent from February 4, 1996, to February 19, 2002. A separate 10 percent rating for instability was granted prior to February 19, 2002. The Veteran's left knee disability is now rated at 30 percent from April 29, 2003, forward and a separate 10 percent rating for instability has been granted from August 6, 2005, to June 1, 2021. Service connection for glaucoma was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus had its onset in service and is granted. The remaining issues are remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incomplete VA examination, and further development is needed.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is rated at 20 percent, effective February 5, 2015. The rating for diabetic retinopathy with bilateral cataracts and glaucoma was increased to 20 percent from October 2, 2017 onwards.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the issue of service connection for glaucoma due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's glaucoma may be related to service, but needs further medical evaluation and consideration of additional VA records.

The Veteran's bilateral open angle glaucoma with dry eye syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 6013. The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities has not met the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has determined that there was a lack of substantial compliance with the prior remand directives and thus, another remand is required. The Veteran's right eye vision loss, CRVO, and NVG conditions are still unclear in terms of their etiology and causation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye glaucoma is not related to his active service, including as secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C or diabetes mellitus. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral eye disorders, diagnosed as cataracts, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issue of glaucoma (suspect) is still pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding several service connection claims, leading to their dismissal.

The Board has found that additional development is required for the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and ocular hypertension with cataracts and mild glaucoma. Specifically, they need to determine if the Veteran had naval service around Vietnam sufficient to presume exposure to herbicides.