Glaucoma decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and adjudication due to issues with the qualifications of VA examiners and the need to obtain recent medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, finding no credible evidence linking any current eye disorders to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives and the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a medical professional.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for abnormal glucose is dismissed as moot because she has already been granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, which includes the same condition. The appeals for pre-glaucoma of her left and right eyes are also dismissed due to her withdrawal request.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his tinnitus, right eye disabilities, PTSD, migraine headaches, and TDIU.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy with pseudophakia of the right eye and cataract of the left eye associated with diabetes mellitus is granted a 30 percent disability rating effective October 1, 2019.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, hypertension, and type II diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma began during his active military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's glaucoma is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The issues of increased ratings for gout and hypertension, and service connection for a back disability and OSA are remanded.

The claim for service connection for an eye disorder, including retinal detachment and glaucoma is remanded due to the submission of new evidence that raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. The Veteran's statements regarding his in-service eye injury are considered credible.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for tinnitus, and has remanded the issues of service connection for left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, and increased evaluation for cataract with extraction, and IOL OS with glaucoma, macular pigment alteration and vitreous hemorrhage.

The Veteran's glaucoma was initially rated at 40% prior to June 13, 2018. From that date until May 22, 2022, the rating was increased to 60%. The appeal is denied for a higher rating.

The Veteran's calcaneal spur and plantar fasciitis of the left foot, lumbar spine disorder, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the right eye (radiculopathy), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the left eye (radiculopathy), decreased bone density, to include osteoporosis and osteopenia, acquired psychiatric disorder, glaucoma of the left eye, and glaucoma of the right eye are all granted.,The Veteran's service connection claims for calcaneal spur and plantar fasciitis of the left foot, lumbar spine disorder, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the right eye (radiculopathy), rhegmatogenous retinal detachment of the left eye (radiculopathy), decreased bone density, to include osteoporosis and osteopenia, acquired psychiatric disorder, glaucoma of the left eye, and glaucoma of the right eye are all granted.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been withdrawn, and the appeal is dismissed. The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) and sleep apnea.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his heart conditions, which led to his death. The VA is instructed to obtain updated treatment records and provide a medical opinion on this issue.

The Veteran's primary open angle glaucoma and left chest lipoma are now granted as service-connected.,Entitlement to a 50 percent rating for migraine headaches is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to an error in not considering a medical opinion from Dr. M. F., who opined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right eye condition, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current glaucoma and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since January 18, 2022.

The Board has remanded the issues of whether new and material evidence was received to reopen claims for left knee disability, right knee disability, diabetes, lung disorder (claimed as COPD), tinnitus, and glaucoma. The Veteran must now request an SOC before these issues can be appealed further.