Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran is seeking service connection for left eye paralysis with glaucoma under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151, alleging that VA treatment caused his condition.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, specifically glaucoma, was rated at 30 percent from February 5, 2009 to July 9, 2017 and at 40 percent since July 10, 2017. The claim of service connection for a respiratory disorder has not been reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete STRs and issues related to service connection for glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for right shoulder degenerative joint changes and supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendinopathy (right shoulder disorder) and glaucoma, finding that there was no evidence showing these conditions began during active service or were related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD. The Veteran's glaucoma was not shown to be incurred or aggravated by his military service, and the evidence did not support a finding that it was related to radiation exposure. For PTSD, the Board found no evidence of symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not due to, the result of, or aggravated by his service-connected seizure disorder medication. Therefore, these claims for secondary service connection have been denied.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for pseudofolliculitis barbae and granted it. The Veteran's glaucoma claim was withdrawn at his hearing, thus no further action is taken on this issue.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, and benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty service and that the conditions were not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran is in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, posttraumatic stress disorder, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy with glaucoma and cataracts, and other conditions. Special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma and bilateral cataracts, finding that these conditions were not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for headaches and glaucoma are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal for an increased rating for facial scars prior to a decision being made by the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma, a congenital disease, clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service. The VA examiner determined that the condition was juvenile glaucoma which had already been present for years before the Veteran entered military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and scheduling VA examinations to address his kidney disability and glaucoma claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's requests to reopen his service connection claims for stomach cancer, gout, liver cancer, glaucoma, chronic nephritis, and bilateral hearing loss as new and material evidence was not provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected conditions, including his blindness due to eye disabilities and anxiety disorder, render him in need of regular aid and attendance. As a result, he is entitled to special monthly compensation based on this need.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claims for chronic maxillary sinusitis, sarcoidosis, and eye disorders have been denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected glaucoma and cataracts with conjunctivitis. The propriety of the severance of service connection for defective vision will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeal seeking service connection for a dental disability has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records, private treatment records, and an addendum medical opinion regarding the etiology of his eye disability and headaches.

The Veteran is granted a higher rating for his service-connected glaucoma and TDIU, with the latter being based on his service-connected glaucoma. Service connection was not established for hypertension, GERD, or rheumatoid arthritis of the shoulders.