Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression and glaucoma. The Board finds that his current depression is related to his military service, specifically due to the negative impact of his glaucoma on his vision. His glaucoma was not aggravated by his service.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded due to inadequate development of medical opinions regarding the etiology of the veteran's right eye glaucoma and nuclear cataracts.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucoma was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim.

The Veteran's spouse is not in need of regular aid and attendance due to her various disabilities, as she can perform most self-care and activities of daily living with some assistance.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from obtaining or maintaining any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with her education and occupational background, as she is currently working as a home health nurse for two different agencies.

The Veteran's neurodermatitis was found to be less than 5% of the total body or exposed area affected, and no systemic therapy was required. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his active duty service. The right eye pterygium claim was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for pigmentary glaucoma and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from the date of the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral glaucoma and right eye uveitis with immature cataract disability was rated at 50 percent since January 29, 2008. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between any claimed condition and his military service.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted his entry into active service.

The Veteran's claimed glaucoma and coronary vasospasm are not found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the Veteran's glaucomatous optic nerve atrophy was not caused by VA medical treatment, and denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss and glaucoma of the right eye was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, kidney failure, and glaucoma as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's PTSD disability rating was increased from 10 percent to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and therefore, service connection for all issues is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right eye glaucoma is being remanded due to the need for additional information and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for primary open angle glaucoma, finding that there was no evidence of an eye disability in service or for years thereafter and that it is not etiologically related to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and glaucoma, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides. The diabetes claim is denied as it did not manifest within one year after separation from service and is unrelated to any injury or disease during service. As a result, the secondary claim for glaucoma also cannot be granted.

The Veteran's aphakia right eye with blindness and glaucoma results in uncorrected vision of light perception only, corrected far and near vision of 20/80. The rating assigned for his right eye disability is 30 percent.