Glaucoma decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and right lateral collateral ligament sprain, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service. The decision is based on credible evidence showing a link between the disabilities and the Veteran's active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for anatomical loss of the right eye and glaucoma of the left eye, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his active service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions including depression, mental health disorder, TBI, alopecia, headaches, TMJ disorder, insomnia, OSA, conjunctivitis, dry eye disorder, glaucoma, PFB, rhinitis, sinusitis, deviated septum, neck disorder, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right elbow disorder, left elbow disorder, asthma, hyperthyroid disorder, hives, anemia, DM (diabetes mellitus), heart disorder, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), kidney stones, hiatal hernia, hemorrhoids, right hip/thigh disorder, left hip/thigh disorder, varicose veins, heel spurs, pes planus, bunions, RUE neuropathy, LUE neuropathy, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, back disorder, RLE neuropathy, LLE neuropathy, HTN (hypertension), GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), bladder disorder, ED (erectile dysfunction), prostate disorder, and gout.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, ocular hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a TDIU effective December 19, 2022.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings were denied. The earliest effective date available was granted.,VA received the Veteran's intent to file a claim for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) on October 15, 2021, which established his eligibility for this benefit.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for cataracts and glaucoma, both secondary to type II diabetes mellitus. The VA examiner's opinions are inadequate as they did not address secondary service-connection on an aggravation basis or provide adequate rationale.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma of the left eye and fibromyalgia. The decision is remanded due to insufficient evidence on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new evidence submitted since the November 2025 Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea, eye condition (including glaucoma and dry eye), and narcolepsy due to inadequate medical opinions regarding service connection. The AOJ is required to develop the case for any toxic-related exposures during service and obtain addendum opinions addressing the relationship of these conditions to military service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for glaucoma progression is denied as the evidence does not show that VA care caused or proximately caused his additional disability.

The Veteran's impairment to the field of vision with glaucoma is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient for his condition. The appeal was denied as there is no evidence of sustained improvement.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma, bilateral foot disability, and sleep apnea were denied. The claim for allergic rhinitis was granted with a 10% rating assigned effective June 21, 2022 (the date of the supplemental claim). The claim for costochondritis with subluxations of the costochondral joints was granted.

The Veteran's COPD, emphysema, neck disability (claimed as neck spinal arthritis), thoracic compression fractures, liver condition (claimed as cirrhosis), skin cancer, shortness of breath, pulmonary embolisms, hypothyroidism, hypogonadism, hypertension, and glaucoma are remanded for further evaluation due to exposure to herbicide agents at Fort McLellan.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for glaucoma due to a stroke caused by hypertension, as this theory was reasonably raised prior to the January 2023 rating decision. The AOJ is directed to obtain VA and private medical records related to the Veteran's last eye examination and provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the glaucoma has been caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension and/or stroke.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral open angle glaucoma with pseudophakia, status post tube shunt glaucoma surgery was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show more than four incapacitating episodes in a 12-month period or visual acuity worse than 20/70 in either eye, which would warrant a higher rating. For prostate cancer, the Veteran's claim for service connection was also denied as there is no etiological link to his service.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma was first diagnosed during his military service, and the Board has determined that there is a nexus between the current condition and his active duty. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for glaucoma prior to January 27, 2023 was denied as there is no medical evidence showing he had visual acuity of less than 5/200 or a reduced visual field to 5 degrees in both eyes prior to that date.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral primary open angle glaucoma, finding that the condition is a progression of ocular hypertension diagnosed during service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for skin cancer, impotence, glaucoma, and neuropathy due to a lack of medical opinion regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents is conceded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left eye primary open angle glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy, and pseudophakia as these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.