Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for eye disability, glaucoma. The veteran's current diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma in each eye is considered to have onset during service.

The veteran's claim for specially adapted housing was denied because his service-connected disability (bilateral glaucoma) did not meet the criteria specified in section 2101(a) of the Veterans Benefits Act, which requires blindness in both eyes with no light perception and loss or use of one lower extremity.

The veteran's current glaucoma, cataracts, hypertension, and heart disease disabilities are linked by competent medical evidence to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disability, other than glaucoma, did not result from service and his bilateral glaucoma is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral mixed astigmatism and presbyopia (refractive error) and retinal hemorrhage of the right eye. The claim for service connection for bilateral glaucoma, bilateral cataracts, and central retinal vein occlusion of the left eye has been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and for a skin disorder on the basis of herbicide exposure. The examiner found no evidence linking the glaucoma to service or to his service-connected diabetes, and there is no evidence of a skin disability related to service.

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

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current glaucoma disability and there is no competent evidence linking his current condition to service or any service-connected disabilities. Therefore, service connection for bilateral glaucoma is denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for COPD, cataracts, and glaucoma for purposes of accrued benefits have been denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or the service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and heart disease, as well as his increased rating claims for diabetic neuropathy of the hands and feet, are all denied. The diabetes mellitus remains rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for open angle glaucoma of the right eye is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including verification of periods of active duty and in-active duty training (ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA), and a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected post-operative enucleation of right eye, iritis with sarcoidosis and glaucoma does not warrant a rating in excess of 40 percent. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains before the Board due to ongoing development.

The Board has ordered a remand for further examination and opinion regarding the veteran's glaucoma of the right eye, which may be related to his cataract surgery in November 1997. The case will then be readjudicated.

The Board has ordered the case to be remanded for additional development, including obtaining an opinion from a VA ophthalmologist regarding whether the veteran's current eye disability and glaucoma are related to or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease and denied an increased rating for his cyst removal residuals. The appeal is pending regarding service connection for glaucoma.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disability is not entitled to a higher rating as his loss of vision is due to non-service-connected glaucoma. The RO previously granted service connection for the right eye disorder and assigned a 10 percent disability rating.

The veteran's claims of secondary service connection for various conditions, including circulatory disorder, glaucoma, hypertension, kidney disease, interventricular bleeding, residuals of a stroke, and seizure disorder are being granted as they are presumed to be related to his diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam War.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-operative glaucoma with no light perception in the right eye does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 20% assigned, as anatomical loss of the right eye is required for a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for primary hyperaldosteronism was denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for primary hyperaldosteronism remains July 24, 1995. The veteran's claim for a total schedular evaluation (100 percent) for diabetes mellitus with diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy and glaucoma was granted with an effective date of March 20, 1997.