Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran's glaucoma is not service-connected as it did not manifest during service and there is no evidence of a relationship to his diabetes. The Veteran does not have heart disease.,There is no current diagnosis of heart disease, and the Veteran's symptoms are more consistent with COPD exacerbation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to address the etiology of the Veteran's vision loss and glaucoma.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of left elbow tendonitis/bursitis and bilateral eye disorder (including glaucoma and cataracts) as being related to service.,Both conditions were not diagnosed until years after separation from service, and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus disability with related complications is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with new VA examinations to determine the origins of his glaucoma, psychiatric disorders other than PTSD, heart disorder, diabetic retinopathy, and PTSD. The effective dates for certain awards are also being addressed.

The Veteran does not have glaucoma that began during or underwent any worsening during a period of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. Therefore, the claim for service connection for glaucoma is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to confusion in the record regarding the exact periods and characterizations of the Veteran's service. The claim will be reviewed again after the clarifying medical opinion is obtained.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and for further development before readjudicating the claims.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination for the Veteran's eye condition. The appeal is currently in a pending status.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability, including congenital cataract. However, the preponderance of the evidence does not support the establishment of service connection as secondary to his service-connected right eye disability.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma but denied service connection for retinal arteriosclerosis. The decision on glaucoma is based on secondary service connection, while the denial of retinal arteriosclerosis is due to lack of evidence supporting a direct or secondary relationship.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for glaucoma and cataracts, which he claims are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the Veteran's employability due to his service-connected right eye disability.

The Veteran's current diagnosed left eye conditions (primary open angle glaucoma, epiretinal membrane, and dry eye) are not related to his period of active service or any incident therein.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus is an etiological factor for his development of glaucoma, and therefore grants service connection for glaucoma as secondary to service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied by the Board in November 2005, and he did not appeal this decision. The RO granted a TDIU effective August 24, 2009 based on his reported unemployment due to service-connected disabilities. However, it is not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred prior to this date.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service. The claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for right knee disability was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current eye disability, including cataracts and glaucoma, is not related to his service or service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran seeks service connection for glaucoma that he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain clarifying opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma and whether it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension is granted. The claims for increased ratings for glaucoma with bilateral cataracts, left thumb status post arthroplasty with degenerative changes and scars, and hypothyroidism are remanded.