Glaucoma decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of her legacy appeal in favor of higher-level review through the modernized system.

The Board has granted service connection for an eye disability, including glaucoma. The claim for a prostate condition was withdrawn during the hearing.

The Veteran's appeal for total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) has been dismissed as he withdrew all remaining issues associated with his appeal.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives and has ordered the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral glaucoma to be remanded for further action.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for type two diabetes mellitus, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and glaucoma of the left and right eyes. The claims are now remanded due to new evidence received since the January 2015 rating decision.

The Veteran's cataracts are granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,A 60 percent disability rating for diabetic retinopathy, including open angle glaucoma and atrophy of the optic nerve, is granted prior to June 17, 2022.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left eye disability and entitlement to TDIU due to lack of compliance with prior remand directives.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability other than his service-connected hypertensive retinopathy, finding that there was not enough evidence to support a nexus between the Veteran's current glaucoma and cataracts and his service or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including lumbar spine injury, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, right eye disability (glaucoma), left eye disability (glaucoma), respiratory disability (asthma), chronic disabilities of the upper and lower extremities, hemorrhoids, leukemia, and high cholesterol. The decision also remanded service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to new evidence and missed VA examinations. The claims will be reconsidered after obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling further medical evaluations.

The Veteran's ocular hypertension with glaucoma was granted a 30% rating as of January 28, 2020. Prior to this date, the condition did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment prior to June 22, 2012.

The Veteran's service connection claim for primary anemia has been withdrawn. The Board grants the Veteran's service connection claim for hypertension as secondary to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, with the effective date being October 1, 2026 (PACT Act). The remaining issues are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected glaucoma with dry eye syndrome is currently rated at 90 percent, effective August 3, 2022. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and schedule a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including requesting Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's claim.

The Board has dismissed all claims as the Veteran withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral narrow angle glaucoma, pinguecula of the left eye, and pterygium and squamous carcinoma of the right eye due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death prior to a final decision.

The Veteran's service connection for ischemic heart disease is granted due to herbicide exposure. The right eye disability claim and the rating claims are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a visual disability, right knee disability, left knee disability (secondary to the right knee), and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded due to insufficient evidence in some cases.