Glaucoma Board decisions

The veteran is seeking service connection for glaucoma and vision loss, as well as reopening a claim for a psychiatric disorder. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide the veteran with proper VCAA notification.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma and dermatitis, both found to be secondary to the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's current glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy to service or his service-connected right eye retinitis and type II diabetes mellitus, thus denying these claims.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for primary glaucoma, bilateral, as the veteran's visual acuity is normal and his impairment of field vision does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, glaucoma, and headaches. The decision also referred a claim of increased rating for right knee disability to the RO.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for paranoid schizophrenia and glaucoma of the right eye, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen his previously denied claim for paranoid schizophrenia. The glaucoma claim was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling an ophthalmologist examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of the claimed glaucoma.

The Board found that the evidence received since the April 1986 rating decision does not present new and material evidence to reopen the claim of service connection for glaucoma.

The Board found that the veteran's glaucoma and PTSD were not service-connected. The glaucoma was determined to be a pre-existing condition without evidence of aggravation during service, while no in-service stressor for PTSD could be established.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and tinea corporis, finding no current diagnosis or link to service.

Service connection for COPD, basal cell carcinoma of the arms, hands, face, chest, and back, and glaucoma is denied.,The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a disability rating greater than 60 percent for his cervical spine condition and for entitlement to total disability based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The evidence did not support an increased rating or TDIU determination.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not currently have glaucoma in his right eye and therefore denied service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating higher than 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's glaucoma is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected glaucoma is not productive of impairment of corrected visual acuity to at least 20/50 in one eye and 20/70 (6/21) in the other eye, or visual field loss of nasal half bilaterally, temporal half bilaterally, or homonymous hemianopsia. Therefore, a disability rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not blind in both eyes, does not require nursing home care due to mental or physical incapacity, and her disabilities do not necessitate regular aid and attendance of another person on a regular basis. The appellant's conditions are deemed insufficient for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and glaucoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA eye examination to determine the current severity of his service-connected traumatic glaucoma of the left eye. The claim will be readjudicated based on the additional evidence.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim of entitlement to a disability rating of 30 percent for glaucoma, resolving doubt in his favor. The veteran's visual field contraction is now rated at 45 degrees or less, which warrants a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 6080.