Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right eye glaucoma is a result of an injury sustained in service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to the adjudication of this claim due to lack of service connection evidence and potential exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma, if present, did not have its origin during his period of active military service and is not causally related to his service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not incurred or aggravated in active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to comply with duty to assist and additional development is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, as well as failure to establish a link between his current conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence submitted since the April 1992 rating decision.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and hypertension. The new evidence received since the last final denial relates to these conditions and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral pseudoaphakia with bilateral eye open angle glaucoma, including bilateral irregular pupils and bilateral uveitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's glaucoma did not first manifest during a period of active service and is not considered to have been permanently aggravated by such service. Therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be established.

The Veteran's current eye disability, including glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, is not related to service. The Board finds the preponderance of evidence against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of the colon or eye disability resulting from increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma). The Board finds that service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis, claimed as swollen and painful joints to include the hands, wrists, elbows, neck, back, hips, and knees. The Veteran's joint pain during active duty is considered a sufficient basis for granting this claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including hearing loss, headaches, cervical and lumbar spine disabilities, hemorrhoids, digestive disorders, a tumor, facial nerve condition, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, glaucoma, and skin conditions are all granted. The basis of the presumption is exposure to herbicides during active military service.

The Board denied the motion to revise or reverse the May 1998 decision that granted an earlier effective date for service connection due to lack of a timely appeal, and concluded there was no CUE.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another, as well as housebound status, is being remanded due to incomplete evidence. The Board will attempt to obtain updated VA treatment records and private medical records to determine if the Veteran meets the criteria for these benefits.

The Board denied an effective date earlier than September 11, 1997 for the award of additional aid and attendance allowance under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(r)(2) due to lack of factual support.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for primary open angle glaucoma and status-post removal of a right eye cataract. The other issues on appeal are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Veteran's claims for an initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for a skin condition of the feet (including any due to a fungus), and service connection for glaucoma were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on his current disability levels.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, are related to his military service. The claim for glaucoma is remanded for further development.