Glaucoma decisions — 2021

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for bilateral glaucoma (claimed as blindness) due to a lack of evidence showing that VA care caused his disability or death, and found no negligence on VA's part.

The Veteran's respiratory disability claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis.,A 60 percent initial disability rating for dermatitis is granted, effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa with cataract extraction, implants and glaucoma was denied as his intent in filing the May 1982 VA Form 21-526 was to apply for nonservice-connected pension for bilateral blindness.

The Veteran's cervical spondylosis at C6-C7 is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted a separate 40 percent rating for right upper extremity radiculopathy and a separate 30 percent rating for left upper extremity radiculopathy, both effective November 10, 2010.

The Veteran's right eye cataract with glaucoma is rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum rating available. The Board denied a higher rating as there were no incapacitating episodes or anatomical loss of the right eye during the claim period. For the automobile allowance issue, the Veteran was not found eligible due to lack of visual impairment in both eyes and absence of other qualifying disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's eye conditions and their relation to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection for an eye disorder is now pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for glaucoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current diagnosis and his period of service.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and kidney disease, finding that the conditions were not related to service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened and granted, with effective dates ranging from November 29, 2016 to the date of the rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for osteosarcoma, but has remanded several other claims due to lack of evidence or need for further examination.

Service connection is granted for a neck condition, right eye condition, and bilateral knee condition.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertensive retinopathy and open angle glaucoma are considered to be related to his service-connected right eye condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient initial adjudication of certain issues and for an addendum opinion on his TBI residuals.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral glaucoma, bilateral loss of vision (including retinal detachment), hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye vision loss due to glaucoma surgery, finding that the event was not reasonably foreseeable and concluding that VA medical care did not cause the worsening of the Veteran's left eye vision.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for clarification regarding whether the Veteran's eye condition, including cataracts and glaucoma, is at least as likely as not aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, finding that it did not have its onset during his active service and was not otherwise etiologically related to such service. The Board also found that the glaucoma was not caused or chronically worsened by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure or other contaminants, including for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypothyroidism; hypertension; lumbar spine disorder; diabetic retinopathy; peripheral neuropathy; glaucoma; and residuals of a myocardial infarction.

The Veteran's decreased vision, claimed as legal blindness, is not considered an additional disability caused by VA medical care. The Board finds that the glaucoma surgeries did not result in a new disability but rather continued the progression of his pre-existing condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is denied. The Board has also remanded the issues regarding a higher rating for diabetes mellitus and service connection for glaucoma as secondary to diabetes mellitus.