Glaucoma decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected eye and knee disabilities cause severe occupational limitations, preventing him from maintaining gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and rating increases have been dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeals.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for scars on the face and over the body, as well as service connection for bilateral mild open angle glaucoma and bilateral senile cataracts with sixth nerve palsy were denied.,There is no evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's current eye conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for a right eye disorder caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus. The TDIU claim is also granted, as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's service connection claim for right eye glaucomatocyclitic crisis is granted. The Veteran's increased rating claim for right eye orbital fracture is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his bilateral glaucoma is remanded, and the issue of entitlement to TDIU is also remanded due to its potential impact on the rating claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's vision loss and its relationship to his diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Additional medical opinions are needed.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss and bacterial conjunctivitis have been denied as there is no current disability. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of gout, left eye astigmatism, borderline glaucoma, flat feet, or hypertension.,For the remaining issues, the Board has found that additional evidence is needed to determine if service connection can be granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hand muscle cramps is granted as new and material evidence has been received. The claim of service connection for liver disability (claimed as hemochromatosis) remains pending.,The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim of service connection for an eye injury is granted, with the issue remaining pending. A March 2022 private evaluation found a relationship between the Veteran's left eye glaucoma and in-service eye injury.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and depression) is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed eye conditions, including glaucoma and dry eye syndrome. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypocholesteremia, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, cataracts, and glaucoma. The appeals were dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of these issues.

The Board has determined that the current examinations are inadequate and requires a new examination with an ophthalmologist to determine the etiology of the Veteran's right eye disorders, including glaucoma. The claims for service connection and increased rating for retained metallic foreign body of the right eye are also remanded due to their inextricably intertwined nature.

The Board has granted an effective date of March 20, 2003 for the Veteran's entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected conditions. The criteria were met as evidenced by the Veteran's inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment from this date onwards.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's kidney disability and erectile dysfunction are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertension.,The Veteran's colon cancer is remanded for further development.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for hypertension as a result of treatment with prednisone at the VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, Indiana in August and September 2006.,The Board also denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for erectile dysfunction, vision disorder (glaucoma), peripheral vascular disease (arterial insufficiency and femoral artery bypass), and nerve damage lower extremities as secondary to hypertension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, glaucoma, peripheral neuropathy of the left leg, and headaches, all claimed as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has found that there was not substantial compliance with its remand directives and therefore the claims for service connection are being remanded. The claims will be reconsidered after a thorough search of the Veteran's tour of duty in South Korea, covering the entire period from September 1969 to October 1970.

The Board has denied service connection for abdominal aneurysm, bilateral kidney disorder, and bilateral glaucoma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service. The right eye disorder is also denied as the separation in time between herbicide exposure and diagnosis makes it less likely caused by such exposure.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including open angle glaucoma and old partial retinal detachment, was not incurred during service or related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's eye disabilities, including retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and cataracts are remanded for further examination and treatment records review.