Glaucoma Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including coronary artery disease, right eye cataract and left eye pseudophakia, left knee degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, glaucoma, and hypercholesterolemia have been granted. Service connection for these conditions is presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in VA's duty to assist, specifically regarding an inadequate medical opinion on whether the Veteran's eye/vision problems are related to her active service. The claim will be returned for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the cases of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for residuals of right eye corneal scar and service connection for bilateral glaucoma due to issues with scheduling an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right eye glaucoma with visual field defect and pseudophakia, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service injury or disease related to his current condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of glaucoma during active duty service. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that there is not substantial compliance with previous remand directives and thus the case must be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's glaucoma with poor vision, pseudophakia, or both are secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus or hypothyroidism.

The Veteran's daughter, P., is recognized as a helpless child due to her disabilities and inability to support herself prior to the age of 18. The claim was reopened based on new evidence showing she became permanently incapable of self-support before reaching the age of 18.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome, a heart disorder, angina pectoris, residuals of a ventral hernia, hepatitis, a lung disorder (atlectasis), hematochezia, gallstones, an autoimmune disorder, and a colon disorder. Service connection was granted for chronic sinusitis with allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for open angle glaucoma, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between his in-service herbicide exposure or diabetes and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed Agent Orange exposure, as it is still under review.

The Board denied service connection for an eye disability, other than glaucoma or cataracts, finding that the Veteran's current eye conditions are not related to his in-service injuries and experiences.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of open angle glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataract (eye disability) as there was no persuasive evidence that these conditions began during service or were related to an in-service injury.

The Veteran's pigmentary glaucoma is found to have started during service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for glaucoma with diabetic retinopathy and bilateral cataracts, effective February 23, 2011.

The Board has denied service connection for glaucoma, a heart disorder (claimed as heart attack with stents and congestive heart failure), hypertension, neuropathy, and a tumor in the knee. The evidence does not establish that these conditions began during or within one year of active service, are related to an in-service injury or disease, or are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from before 1994.

The petition to reopen claims for various conditions, including sleep apnea and hemorrhoids, is granted. The issues of service connection are remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is remanded for extraschedular consideration.,The Veteran's claims for bilateral chronic open angle glaucoma with bilateral nodular scleritis, MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), bronchitis, migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's claims for MDD, depression (claimed as insomnia), migraines, cervical and lumbar back conditions, uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM are remanded for VA examinations to determine their etiology.,The Veteran's bronchitis claim is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran's migraines claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's cervical and lumbar back conditions claims are remanded for a VA examination to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's uterine fibroids, hysterectomy, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, right ankle condition, and DM claims are remanded for VA examinations to determine their nature and etiology.,The Veteran's right ankle condition claim is remanded for a VA examination to determine its nature and etiology.,The Veteran's DM claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for Lewy body dementia, which is presumed due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.,Service connection was also granted for bilateral vision loss (diabetic retinopathy) and bilateral cataracts. The claim for glaucoma was denied as there is no evidence of its onset in service or a link to diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim remains pending due to the lack of prior communication indicating intent to file such a claim.