Glaucoma decisions — 2022

The Veteran's daughter, P., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities and inability to support herself prior to the age of 18. The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing she became permanently incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 18.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, a heart disorder, angina pectoris, residuals of a ventral hernia, hepatitis, a lung disorder (atlectasis), hematochezia, gallstones, an autoimmune disorder, and a colon disorder. Service connection was granted for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for open angle glaucoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service herbicide exposure or diabetes and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed Agent Orange exposure, as it is still under review.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, other than glaucoma or cataracts, finding that the Veteran's current eye conditions are not related to his in-service injuries and experiences.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of open angle glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataract (eye disability) as there was no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's pigmentary glaucoma is found to have started during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cataracts, effective February 23, 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma, a heart disorder (claimed as heart attack with stents and congestive heart failure), hypertension, neuropathy, and a tumor in the knee. The evidence does not establish that these conditions began during or within one year of active service, are related to an in-service injury or disease, or are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from before 1994.

The petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including sleep apnea and hemorrhoids, is granted. The issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral chronic open angle glaucoma with bilateral nodular scleritis, MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), bronchitis, migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for VA examinations to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's bronchitis claim is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's cervical and lumbar back conditions claims are remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM claims are remanded for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's right ankle condition claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's DM claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Lewy body dementia, which is presumed due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral vision loss (diabetic retinopathy) and bilateral cataracts. The claim for glaucoma was denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service or a link to diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains pending due to the lack of prior communication indicating intent to file such a claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to his claimed disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, hypothyroidism, myocardial infarction residuals, hypertension, hemorrhoids, and gastrointestinal disorder. The remand requires further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder has been reopened, and to that extent only, the claim is allowed. The claims for dizziness, right eye condition, skin condition, and low back disability are remanded due to outstanding records and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not manifest during service or within one year of separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service event.,The Veteran's psoriasis may have worsened since the last examination. A new VA examination is needed to determine its current nature and severity.,Spinal stenosis, COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and glaucoma are all potentially related to herbicide exposure during service. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,COPD and pulmonary fibrosis may be related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. A new VA examination is needed to evaluate these conditions.,Pulmonary fibrosis and COPD are both related to the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea. Further evaluation is required to establish a connection.,Glaucoma is not service-connected as it may be due to refractive error, which cannot be subject to herbicide exposure presumption.,Obstructive sleep apnea is inextricably intertwined with the Veteran's claims for COPD and pulmonary fibrosis. These claims must be remanded first.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's eye disabilities, including ocular hypertension with glaucoma and cataracts.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, finding that his current conditions are not related to an in-service injury and that there is no evidence of a chronic disability or residuals during clinical evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disability other than bilateral cataracts and bilateral glaucoma, granted service connection for bilateral cataracts as secondary to type II diabetes mellitus, and found that there is equipoise of evidence regarding whether bilateral glaucoma is related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service onset or relationship to service for glaucoma, cervical spine disability, and lumbar spine disability. Service connection was remanded for prostate condition and hypertension.