Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his diagnosed psychiatric disorders and eye disability.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected Posner-Schlossman glaucoma from May 13, 2011 to November 10, 2011. The rating was then reduced back to 10 percent since that date.

The Veteran's service-connected glaucoma has precluded him from substantial gainful employment since February 17, 2014.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for itching, as secondary to Graves' disease. The issue of left eye glaucoma and right hip condition are pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Guillain-Barre syndrome and Type II diabetes mellitus are not related to his active duty service, and therefore denied these claims. The Board also found no evidence of a current disability for other conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's glaucoma first manifested during service and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including the consideration of new evidence and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, finding that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board also found no direct service connection as there were no records of glaucoma during service.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral eye disorders are not related to his military service and denied his claim.

The Board found that the service-connected primary open angle glaucoma with blindness did not cause or contribute substantially to the Veteran's death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete medical records and the need for additional examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA medical opinion to address whether the Veteran's left eye glaucoma is etiologically related to his active duty service or caused by, alternatively aggravated, by his service-connected TBI and/or service-connected right eye disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her service-connected hypothyroidism, glaucoma with cataracts, and left thumb disability. The evidence did not support a higher rating for any of these conditions.

The Veteran's right eye disability, specifically glaucoma, is currently rated at 30 percent and the Board finds no evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's left eye disability, characterized by aphakia and glaucoma, is currently rated at 40 percent. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his vision in the non-service-connected right eye is sufficient to prevent an increased evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for osteopenia, cervical spine disorder, eye disorders (including cataracts and glaucoma), cholesterol disorder, and back disorder are denied as there is no medical evidence establishing a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings were denied. The bilateral eye disability, atherosclerotic coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are all rated at their maximum levels.

The Veteran's open angle glaucoma has been rated at 20 percent since December 22, 2007. This rating is based on visual field impairment and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to visual acuity or other conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for further examinations. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.