Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of bilateral eye injuries and bilateral glaucoma is granted. The Board found that the evidence raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims, and resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a right eye condition, including glaucoma, is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and records.

The Veteran withdrew all his appeals, including the one for service connection of bilateral eye glaucoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including anxiety disorder, valvular heart disease, tinnitus, and glaucoma, make it at least as likely as not that he cannot secure or maintain employment due to his conditions. As a result, the Board has granted TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma as secondary to diabetes mellitus and/or hypertension, and also denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypertension. The evidence did not support the Veteran's claim that his service-connected conditions caused or aggravated his glaucoma.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not combine to preclude substantially gainful employment, as the VA examiners found that her conditions do not prevent her from performing sedentary work.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his lumbar spine disability, as he does not have loss of use of one or more lower extremities.

The Veteran's heart disorder has been rated at 60 percent since July 9, 2008. A TDIU rating is granted due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment. The issue of service connection for an eye disability other than service-connected hypertensive retinopathy (to include glaucoma and blurred vision) is remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for bilateral cataracts, open angle glaucoma, and increased rating for cervical spine fracture residuals and bilateral upper extremity radiculopathy. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for migraine headaches has been dismissed. The Board also remanded the issues of increased rating for glaucoma and entitlement to a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted reopening of service connection for hypertension, but denied reopening of service connection for a musculoskeletal condition (left ankle), liver condition/cirrhosis, macular degeneration with glaucoma of the right eye, and loss of vision of the left eye. Service connection for hypertension is granted.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection of prostate cancer has been granted. His claim for service connection of an eye disorder, including glaucoma, is denied. The Board has found the evidence insufficient to determine if prostate cancer is secondary to service-connected anemia and remanded for further clarification.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of glaucoma and also denied his request for an increased rating for coronary artery disease (CAD). The decision on both claims is based on lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an increased initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected uveitic glaucoma (claimed as right eye surgery) is being remanded due to the submission of recent VA outpatient treatment records. The RO will review these records and consider them before making a decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, claimed as vision loss, is denied because there is no current diagnosis of glaucoma or related vision loss.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for left hip degenerative arthritis is denied due to the lack of evidence showing symptoms that meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is service-connected for multiple conditions, including PTSD rated at 100 percent. The Board found that the Veteran meets the criteria for SMC based on aid and assistance due to his need for regular aid and attendance because of his service-connected PTSD. However, he does not meet the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Veteran's depression has been granted a rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The appeal is denied for the other issues.

Service connection was denied for glaucoma, DM and a rating in excess of 10 percent for hypothyroidism. The Veteran's glaucoma is not service-connected as it did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge. Service connection for DM was also denied due to lack of evidence showing its onset during service or within the first post-service year. Hypothyroidism has been rated at 10 percent since 1993, and the Board found that symptoms are consistent with a 10 percent disability rating.,DM was not shown in active service or for many years thereafter; nor was it shown to be manifested to a compensable degree during the first post-service year or to be otherwise related to service. Hypothyroidism has been rated at 10 percent since 1993, and the Board found that symptoms are consistent with a 10 percent disability rating.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD. The claims for glaucoma, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension have been denied as the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded because the VA needs to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records, which are not currently in the claims file.