Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's left eye disorder is related to service. The claim will be reconsidered after this development.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder, including glaucoma, and denied his increased rating claims for scars, lacerations to the lateral side of the right knee, and a right ankle disability. The decision also noted that it was unclear whether the appeal was about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the termination of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was improper, as it had not been in effect long enough to warrant a reduction. The Veteran's disability remains severe enough to require such benefits.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a final decision can be made on the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral glaucoma.

The Veteran was not in receipt of a total disability rating for at least eight continuous years prior to his death, thus failing the requirement for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2).

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, pes planus, peripheral artery disease, and glaucoma. The Veteran's bilateral knee disorder claim was not addressed as it is related to a different issue.

The VA examiner found bilateral glaucoma and epiphora in the Veteran's eyes, but did not find a direct link to service. The Board therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma is not related to his service or his service-connected jaw disability, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of direct service connection for glaucoma, lumbar degenerative joint disease, left shoulder disorder, neck disorder, and chest pain due to a sternum injury. The preponderance of evidence indicated that these conditions were not related to his active service.

The Veteran is entitled to special monthly pension benefits based on the need for aid and attendance of another person due to his disabilities, including diabetic neuropathy, glaucoma, vertigo, and memory loss. His combined nonservice-connected disability rating for pension purposes is 90 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for anemia and a higher rating for glaucoma. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current anemia to a service-connected disorder, and concluded that the Veteran's glaucoma warranted a 10% rating based on visual field loss.

The Board found that the Veteran's current glaucoma is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye disability and finds that new evidence supports a finding of in-service onset. The Veteran is therefore entitled to service connection.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy with glaucoma of the bilateral eyes was rated at 30 percent prior to January 15, 2008 and increased to 40 percent effective from January 15, 2008.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for non-VA hospital treatment on May 20, 2009 are approved because the delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to his life or health and a VA facility was not feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not include new and material evidence to reopen the claim for service connection for glaucoma secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, glaucoma (claimed as secondary to diabetes mellitus), asthma, and intractable plantar keratoses. The effective dates for the 20% evaluations were not granted.

The Veteran's pre-existing eye conditions (presbyopia corrected with glasses, surgically corrected strabismus) were not aggravated by service. The post-service diagnoses of right eye subretinal neovascularization, retinal detachment, and glaucoma are not related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including glaucoma of the left eye, bladder cancer, cardiovascular disease (including hypertension and residuals of myocardial infarction), and a pulmonary disorder, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The VA examinations did not find any link between these conditions and exposure to asbestos or other in-service factors.