Glaucoma decisions — 2026

The Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to the AOJ's failure to address whether it is in the best interest of the Veteran to participate in the program. The Board finds that the Veteran has been in need of personal care services for at least six continuous months based on an inability to perform the ADL of bathing.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, glaucoma/low vision, and monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his diabetic retinopathy glaucomatous atrophy of the right eye, special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.

The Veteran withdrew all appeals regarding his service-connected conditions and related disability ratings, effective as of March 16, 2026.

The Veteran's service-connected glaucoma has rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment on an extra-schedular basis, effective September 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC have been remanded due to regulatory changes affecting the rating of eyes on May 13, 2018. The AOJ is instructed to consider both old and new criteria for rating eye disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, bilateral hearing loss, Type II diabetes, bilateral glaucoma, OSA, cervical disc herniation, and other musculoskeletal issues are denied.,Service connection is not established for any of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for further review of the evidence. The Board is unable to determine if there was a factual increase in disability prior to the effective dates requested, or if service connection should be granted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's disability picture, primarily due to Parkinson's disease and related manifestations, does not meet the criteria for SMC at the statutory housebound level as his other disabilities do not yield a combined rating of 60 percent.

The Veteran's disability picture, primarily due to Parkinson's disease and related manifestations, does not meet the criteria for SMC at the statutory housebound level as his other disabilities do not yield a combined rating of 60 percent.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to incomplete records, including SSA disability benefits records. The Veteran's right knee tendinopathy, tendinitis is not rated higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected open angle glaucoma is granted an initial 20 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinions are needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's primary open angle glaucoma with cataracts, as well as a determination of whether he has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss for VA compensation purposes. The case is being remanded to allow for these determinations.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral primary open-angle glaucoma as the Veteran's current diagnosis was not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for lumbosacral strain, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, right eye disability, and left eye disability due to inadequate VA medical opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because there was no evidence that the right eye disability resulted from carelessness, negligence, or similar fault on the part of VA personnel.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including generalized anxiety disorder, and for glaucoma. The evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes with upper and lower extremity diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, back disability, and bilateral knee disability, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of July 26, 2022. Effective date for TDIU is set at this date.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's reports of vision problems and his acquired psychiatric disorder and inflammations of joints provide support for awarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 60 percent for primary open angle glaucoma with pseudophakia is granted, effective from March 13, 2024.