Glaucoma Board decisions

The Board has found lack of substantial compliance with its prior remand directives and the matter is being remanded again for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from an ophthalmologist regarding the Veteran's right eye disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral eye disability and benign prostatic hypertrophy (claimed as prostate cancer) due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their relationship to service. The claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of whether glaucoma is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The appeal for entitlement to service connection for high cholesterol is dismissed.,The appeal for entitlement to service connection for glaucoma is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative arthritis of the cervical and thoracic spine, glaucoma, a chronic disability manifested as shortness of breath, and cataracts all related to military service. Service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of whether glaucoma is aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of whether glaucoma is aggravated by diabetes mellitus. The decision on tinnitus was based on lack of evidence linking it to service, while the aggravation claim requires an addendum opinion.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's glaucoma, cervical spine DDD, and chronic stomach condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim from October 14, 2009 to March 29, 2010 is moot due to his combined 100% disability rating.,The Veteran's TDIU prior to October 14, 2009 remains on appeal and requires extraschedular consideration.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for eye disorders, OSA, and narcolepsy due to inadequate medical opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran is required to provide private treatment records from Dr. S. and any updated VA records.

The Board has granted service connection for glaucoma and macular retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service welding exposure.

The Veteran's eye disorder, including age related macular degeneration and glaucoma, is being remanded for further development due to a duty to assist error regarding VA examinations of record. The claim will be reconsidered with an adequate VA examination that addresses the Veteran's unique medical history and his contention that his vision deteriorated immediately after Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including cataracts and glaucoma, is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate previous opinions regarding the nature of his preexisting condition.,The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) rating is also remanded as there are insufficient medical opinions regarding flare-ups and functional loss.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for a higher rating for right ear hearing loss. The claim for an increased rating of PTSD is granted, but remanded due to lack of VA examination for bilateral glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the claim due to inadequate opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral glaucoma and its relationship to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to provide private treatment records from Rock Hill Eye Center and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for glaucoma and macular degeneration due to a lack of clarity regarding the Veteran's duty status during his period of active duty from October 26, 2001 to November 15, 2001. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions based on their onset during this period.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was denied. The appeals for service connection for colon polyps and prostate cancer were both denied.,The appeals for service connection for right knee disorder and glaucoma are pending and will be remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for right eye open angle glaucoma is denied. The earliest effective date that can be assigned is June 23, 2008, which is when the Veteran submitted a request to reopen his claim.

The Board has granted service connection for necrotizing pancreatitis residuals, postoperative scars associated with necrotizing pancreatitis, and bilateral glaucoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including major depressive disorder with anxious distress, lumbar spine disability, painful scars of the right knee, hypertension, and other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted TDIU based on this finding.