Glaucoma decisions — 2023

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma and bilateral hearing loss, but has remanded the issue of service connection for a bilateral knee disability.,Service connection is not granted for glaucoma or bilateral hearing loss due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has granted the Appellant's claim for special monthly DIC based on the need for regular aid and attendance, resolving all reasonable doubt in her favor. The decision also moots any housebound status claim as it is superseded by the grant of aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, cerebrovascular disease (stroke), was related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or cancer malignancy. The appeal is granted.

Your claim for service connection for bilateral glaucoma has been previously denied and is now dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus type II and glaucoma, including as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II due to outstanding service personnel records and the need for additional medical opinions. The PACT Act is relevant to the diabetes mellitus claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection on the issues of glaucoma, right shoulder disability, sciatic neuropathy in the left lower extremity (LLE), and diabetes mellitus are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to procedural issues. The Veteran's eye disorders are related to his advanced age, not service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's eye disorder claim for further development, including obtaining an adequate examination report and expert opinion to determine if a current eye disorder is related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an eye disability, entitlement to an increased rate of special monthly compensation (SMC), and an effective date prior to January 22, 2018, for the award of SMC at the housebound rate due to incomplete medical records and need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma with left-sided homonymous hemianopsia resulted in a visual acuity of no worse than 20/40 in both eyes, and an average concentric contraction of 33.5 degrees in the left eye and 44.375 degrees in the right eye. The Board found that this warranted a 30 percent disability rating under DCs 6013-6080.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral open angle glaucoma is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him incapable of securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and thus grants his claim for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's right eye glaucoma results in visual acuity of no better than light perception only, which warrants a 30 percent disability rating. The case is remanded for further development to determine if higher ratings are warranted and to address the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's current eye disability, including glaucoma and loss of sight, was not caused by or incurred during service. The Board found the evidence does not support a finding that his back disability is related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, finding that it is a congenital disease that initially manifested during service. The Veteran's condition was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's glaucoma and right eye retinal detachment with pseudophakia are being remanded for further development due to concerns about the timing of VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left eye corneal scar was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have any incapacitating episodes or visual field impairment, and thus could not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the revised VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities. The right eye disability claim is remanded due to incomplete etiology opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of hepatitis and glaucoma due to missing service treatment records. The Veteran's STRs from his first period of service are not in the claims file, and efforts should be made to obtain these records.

Your claim for service connection for an eye disability, including bilateral primary open angle glaucoma and bilateral nuclear sclerosis cataracts, has been dismissed because the issue was improperly docketed.

The Board has decided that the service connection for an eye disability, including glaucoma and cataracts, needs further development due to a challenge raised by the appellant's representative regarding the competency of the VA examiner who provided an addendum opinion.