Glaucoma decisions — 2024

The Veteran's heart condition, diagnosed as atherosclerotic disease, glaucoma, cataracts, and colon cancer are all granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure during service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 8, 2019, for the grant of service connection for bilateral tinnitus is granted. The claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction and bilateral glaucoma are remanded.

The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left eye glaucoma, right eye glaucoma, and tinea pedis due to a lack of evidence showing the conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are therefore denied.

The Board has determined that new evidence has been received to support the previously denied claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, a right shoulder condition, bilateral open angle glaucoma with cataract (claimed as bilateral eye condition), and bilateral leg varicose veins. As such, these claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability and pansinusitis (sinus disability), and found that his sinus disability is rated appropriately at 50 percent.

The Veteran's left and right eye glaucoma have been granted service connection, with the Board finding that his conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected cervical spine disability is found to be the primary cause of his obstructive sleep apnea. The bilateral lattice degeneration of the retina with right eye photopsia and open angle glaucoma are granted at a 10% rating, effective from the date of the May 2022 decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to VA treatment is remanded, as there are outstanding VA treatment records and an additional medical opinion is needed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for additional disability in both eyes, including vision loss and glaucoma, caused by treatment received at a VA facility. The decision is based on outstanding records from Howerton Eye Clinic that have not been reviewed yet.

The Board has granted an effective date of December 11, 2013 for the award of service connection for glaucoma. The Veteran's claim to reopen was received on December 11, 2013, and there is no evidence indicating a prior claim existed from 1995.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for diverticulitis, glaucoma, scalp folliculitis, and tuberculosis as they are still under the legacy system.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure to obtain service treatment records for in-service eye injuries, and to consider whether to grant the claim based on favorable medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, specifically regarding the opinion on whether the Veteran's service-connected sinus headaches and/or allergic rhinitis with maxillary and frontal sinusitis aggravate his blurred vision. The AOJ will obtain an addendum opinion from a clinician to address this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of glaucoma as secondary to her service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and as such, the RO should have obtained clarifying opinions regarding whether the YAG capsulotomy treatment was in fact conducted too early. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded to obtain additional clarification from an appropriate medical professional.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and as such, the RO should have obtained clarifying opinions regarding whether the YAG capsulotomy treatment was in fact conducted too early. The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded to obtain additional clarification from an appropriate medical professional.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding the increased ratings for left eye optic atrophy with chronic narrow angle glaucoma, hypertension, PTSD, and asbestosis.

The Board has determined that the VA medical opinions are inadequate and as such, the RO should have obtained clarifying opinions regarding whether the Veteran's left eye condition was caused or aggravated by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA. The VA ophthalmologist did not address the private DBQ from 2019 and the timeline provided by the Veteran's treating optometrist.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The appeal as to entitlement to a TDIU from January 26, 2017 is dismissed as moot.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cataract and glaucoma, finding no evidence linking these conditions to her military service.