Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II with retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating due to lack of regulation of activities.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the Veteran's current disabilities are not related to his active duty. Service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, and visual impairment have been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma of the left eye is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and right eye disability, thus denying service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability resulted in varying degrees of visual acuity and field loss, which were rated under the appropriate VA rating criteria. The Veteran was denied an increased rating for his eyes as his conditions did not meet the schedular criteria for higher ratings. For hearing loss, service connection was also denied due to lack of evidence meeting the legal requirements.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on all issues have been denied. The Board finds no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of any claimed conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a medical examination to determine if any identified disability, including glaucoma, is an organic disease of the nervous system and whether it had its onset during service or is attributable to any in-service disease, event, or injury.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and information from the Social Security Administration.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disability and associated radiculopathy, as well as his glaucoma, are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's glaucoma and cataracts are secondary to his service-connected right eye corneal scarring, considering a recent statement from his daughter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts and glaucoma are not service-connected, as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to these conditions. The Board found that the combat presumption does not apply due to lack of documentation of cataracts during service.

The Veteran's appeal involves two issues: a claim for increased ratings for his service-connected left eye cataract extraction and right eye cataract with retinopathy and maculopathy, as well as a TDIU issue. The RO has not yet clarified the current rating or ratings assigned for these disabilities.

The Board found that the Veteran's current eye conditions, including glaucoma and cataracts, were not incurred in or caused by his active duty service.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claims for service connection for left epididymitis, bilateral cataracts, and glaucoma. New evidence received since December 2010 did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board denied reopening of service connection for PTSD, hypertension, and other conditions due to lack of evidence supporting the claims.,Service connection was not granted for hypertension, musculoskeletal condition, liver condition/cirrhosis, macular degeneration with glaucoma of the right eye, or loss of vision of the left eye as there was no established service connection.,The Board also denied reopening of service connection for CAD and diabetes mellitus type II due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for the issues of higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for dental disorder for VA compensation purposes, bilateral eye disability (including cataracts and normal tension glaucoma), kidney disability (including kidney stones), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The appeals are all denied as not supported by evidence.

The Board denied reopening of the claims for diabetes mellitus, eye disability (glaucoma), depression, left hip disability, left ring finger infection, hemorrhoids, and kidney stones. The new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including heart disability, thyroid disability, dementia, prostate disability, glaucoma, cervical spine disability, and Alzheimer's disease, did not have their onset during active service or for many years thereafter and are not otherwise causally related to his military service. Therefore, these claims of service connection are denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to deficiencies in previous medical opinions and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to address his claims of service connection for glaucoma, an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, emphysema, and heart disease.