Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder condition and a back condition, as well as his claims for glaucoma, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The evidence submitted since the November 2001 rating decision did not provide new and material evidence to reopen any of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for glaucoma prior to August 4, 2008, and from 30 percent thereafter is being remanded due to the need for additional development including a VA ophthalmology examination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of cataracts and glaucoma of the right eye prior to a decision being made.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for entitlement to monetary assistance for the purchase of an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only due to insufficient evidence of permanent impairment of vision in both eyes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma preexisted his second period of active duty and was aggravated by service. Therefore, service connection is granted for this condition.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 30 percent for the Veteran's service-connected advanced pigmentary glaucoma, which was already rated at that level.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma to his active service, including any in-service hepatitis with yellow jaundice. The preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, as there is no competent evidence of their onset or association with his military service.

The Veteran's multiple disabilities do not meet the criteria for a special monthly pension by reason of being in need of aid and attendance or on account of being housebound.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issues of bilateral hearing loss, post tubulovillous adenoma polyp excision, glaucoma, and bronchitis. The claims were dismissed without prejudice.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, glaucoma, prostatic hyperplasia (prostate condition), and osteoporosis. Service connection was denied for torus palatinus, periodontal disease, obesity, septal deviation, diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service connection claims for right foot disorders and depression are granted, while the claim for glaucoma is denied.

The Veteran's uveitis and cataract with glaucoma, left eye are currently manifest by legal blindness in the left eye, pain, and pressure. The criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent have not been met.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct. However, the Veteran did not meet the durational requirement for a total disability rating in existence during his lifetime under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318. The only service-connected condition (Behcet's Disease with glaucoma) rated at 100% disabling since June 6, 2005 did not meet the duration requirements for a total disability rating.

The Veteran is granted special monthly pension at the housebound rate due to his age and multiple nonservice-connected disabilities, with a combined rating of 80 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for additional development, including obtaining medical records from Dr. H and scheduling a VA ophthalmology examination.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded for additional development of his service connection and disability rating issues.

The Veteran's service-connected left eye disability results in vision limited to no worse than 20/40, with no significant impairment of field of vision. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for Hepatitis C and left eye disorder (glaucoma) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asymmetric glaucoma and early cataract of the left eye (claimed as nerve damage) is being remanded due to a lack of available service records. The Board will seek additional development, including scheduling an examination, to determine if there is a relationship between the current left eye disorders and the Veteran's period of active service.