The petition to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for glaucoma with left eye blindness is denied. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and insomnia, is granted. Initial compensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) are denied. The effective date prior to October 13, 2009, for the award of service connection for PFB is denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the June 2009 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for glaucoma with left eye blindness. The acquired psychiatric disorders are related to active duty service, but there was no current diagnosis of hypertension or depression at the time of the denial in June 2009.
- Claimed conditions
- glaucoma with left eye blindness, acquired psychiatric disorders (including major depressive disorder and insomnia)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2019
- Citation
- 19136312
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,990 · Granted: 35% (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 19136312.
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What you can do next
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