Glaucoma decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, heart disability, kidney disease, and bilateral eye disability (claimed as glaucoma with blindness) due to lack of evidence supporting a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for right knee DJD and a right knee strain. The case is remanded for further action on the bilateral glaucoma with dry eyes claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, bilateral open-angle glaucoma, and blindness as they are not related to his service-connected disabilities.,The Veteran's current diagnoses of hypertension, bilateral open-angle glaucoma, and blindness have been remanded due to insufficient medical nexus opinions regarding their relationship to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum VA medical opinion to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma (now diagnosed as ocular hypertension) and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for glaucoma, hearing loss, and hepatitis C due to incomplete examination records. The Veteran was not contacted by VA for examinations related to these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma, finding that the condition was a congenital disease that clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Service connection for a low back disability is remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's vision disorder and TDIU claims. The issues of service connection for a vision disorder and TDIU are currently before the Board.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, claimed as glaucoma with poor vision, due to a lack of adequate etiological opinion. The hypothyroidism claim is granted based on presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, skin disability, and peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a relationship to service.,Service connection was not granted because the Veteran refused VA examinations which are necessary to determine if any claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has granted service connection for an eye disability, to include glaucoma, as secondary to hypertension. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to obtain additional opinions regarding service connection. The Veteran's claims for hearing loss, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and vision/glaucoma are being reviewed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disabilities, including normal tension glaucoma suspect, cataracts, and dry eye syndrome, are not related to service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions began during service or are otherwise etiologically related.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's eye disability, including glaucoma and cataracts. The examiner must provide opinions on whether any current eye disability had its origin in service or is related to active service, including exposure to herbicides, and whether it was caused by or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has granted service connection for left eye glaucoma and denied service connection for missing teeth for compensation purposes. The decision is based on the opinion that the Veteran's left eye glaucoma was caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The claim for service connection for glaucoma is denied. The claim for an increased disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of his eye disability, which includes bilateral dry eye syndrome and glaucoma suspect, is remanded due to the need for a VA examination by an ophthalmologist to determine if there are residuals from the in-service PRK surgery that are more than the usual effects of the surgery.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, and glaucoma as secondary to cancer treatment due to potential exposure to toxins and herbicides during service. The VA is instructed to investigate the Veteran's reports of alleged exposure and schedule him for appropriate examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma, is rated at 90 percent after August 6, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional right eye disability caused by a May 2016 VA eye procedure. The Board has ordered the remand to obtain and review all records, including the full informed consent document associated with the procedure, and to provide an addendum opinion regarding potential complications and causation.