Glaucoma decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty to assist error in the VA examinations prior to the decision. The Board requires further development to determine the severity of his eye disabilities and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claims for additional months of service-connected compensation and service connection have been denied. The effective dates for the awards are correct, but the Veteran is seeking an earlier payment start date.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral open angle glaucoma is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. The examiner must consider and discuss relevant lay and medical evidence, including a Mayo Clinic article.

The Veteran's loss of use of the left eye, resulting in blindness with only light perception, is due to his service-connected bilateral glaucoma. The Board has granted entitlement to special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a stomach/digestion condition and eye conditions are being remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The AOJ is required to obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies between the Veteran's lay statements and the VA opinion, as well as the need for additional service records. The claim will be reconsidered after these issues are addressed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease and multiple other conditions, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since June 27, 2023.

The Board has determined that the etiological opinion is inadequate and committed a pre-decisional error by denying the claim without seeking clarification on whether glaucoma is service-connected. The case is being remanded to address these issues.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for hernia and glaucoma, which are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected uveitis with bilateral uveitic glaucoma and bilateral posterior subcapsular cataracts is rated at 60 percent from March 14, 2022. The rating was increased based on documented incapacitating episodes of uveitis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma, hypertension, neuropathy, and a skin disease are being remanded due to the VA not considering relevant evidence from internet articles that discuss potential herbicide agents (Agent Orange) on Okinawa before they were transferred to Johnston Island in the early 1970s.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of open angle glaucoma due to insufficient medical evidence and a need for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and for an opinion on whether the Veteran's eye disabilities, including nuclear sclerosis and glaucoma suspect, are related to his service-connected residuals of traumatic brain injury.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left eye glaucoma associated with eye trauma, retinal detachment and bullous keratopathy was granted effective May 23, 2017.,Special monthly compensation on account of loss of use of one eye is also granted effective September 30, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for OSA is denied. The Board also granted a TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.