The Board has granted service connection for bilateral glaucoma and denied service connection for bilateral cataracts, refractive error (including astigmatism and presbyopia), and increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's current disability rating for bilateral hearing loss remains at noncompensable.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise regarding whether bilateral glaucoma was caused by service-connected diabetes, granting service connection for this condition. Service connection for bilateral cataracts and refractive error were denied due to lack of a positive association with diabetes. The Veteran's increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus type II was granted at 10 percent effective September 14, 2015, based on the need for an oral hypoglycemic agent and restricted diet.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral glaucoma, bilateral cataracts, refractive error (including astigmatism and presbyopia)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2018
- Citation
- 18150671
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 18150671.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular Aid and Attendance is granted as of April 25, 2024.,For diabetes mellitus, a rating in excess of 20 percent is denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a left wrist fracture, bilateral hearing loss, Type II diabetes, bilateral glaucoma, OSA, cervical disc herniation, and other musculoskeletal issues are denied.,Service connection is not established for any of the claimed conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed all appeals except for the claim of an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain. The appeal concerning the other issues on appeal is dismissed.
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