The Veteran's bilateral primary open angle glaucoma has been rated at 20 percent since January 2016. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as there was no evidence of worsened visual acuity, visual field, or muscle function.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for a higher rating was denied because he did not provide evidence showing worsened visual acuity, visual field, or muscle function than what was currently reflected in his 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- January 22, 2019
- Citation
- 19104813
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19104813.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in the November 20, 1998, Rating Decision which denied service connection for bilateral primary open angle glaucoma. The Veteran's glaucomatocyclitic crisis was diagnosed during active military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent disability evaluation for PTSD, finding the Veteran's symptoms equated to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Denied
The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the November 20, 1998, Rating Decision that denied service connection for bilateral primary open angle glaucoma. The evidence did not establish an objective diagnosis of glaucoma during active military service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for bilateral primary open angle glaucoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, finding that his glaucoma is at least as likely as not related to his diabetes.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.