Glaucoma decisions — 2020

The Veteran's open-angle glaucoma is rated at 30 percent since January 10, 2012. The hearing loss rating remains denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and its complications, including diabetic retinopathy with bilateral cataracts and glaucoma. The VA will also seek private treatment records from the Veteran’s non-VA providers.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a left eye injury, including iris sphincter tear is denied as the disability does not manifest in decreased visual acuity or other significant impairment.

The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for coronary artery disease, bilateral hearing loss, glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, prostate disability, skin rash (recurring skin sensation disturbance), and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity is denied. The appeals are remanded to obtain additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's glaucoma and cataracts, including whether they are related to herbicide exposure or diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the claims for cerebrovascular disability, headache disability, memory loss disability, and heart disability due to potential etiological links to service.

The Board has denied service connection for diplopia, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity. The Veteran's glaucoma is remanded for further development.,Service connection for glaucoma is remanded as there are conflicting opinions regarding its etiology.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was remanded due to insufficient response regarding a VA Form 21-8940 for his left eye disability. The Board found that the Veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected left eye disability, and referred the issue to the Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for various conditions. The effective dates are not specified as they were not addressed in this decision.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral pes planus, chronic feet dryness, and glaucoma. The Veteran's claims for sleep apnea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are remanded due to inadequate examination reports.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current eye disabilities, including glaucoma and cataracts, are caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's eye disorder (glaucoma and cataracts) is related to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of bilateral glaucoma was denied. The Veteran also had his initial disability evaluation for bilateral glaucoma (rated at 20%) denied as there is no evidence showing that the condition has worsened since he was discharged from service in 1994.

The Board denied service connection for left eye glaucoma, a psychiatric disorder (claimed as major depressive disorder), and several other conditions. The decision also noted that the Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but did not provide additional evidence or clarify his exposure to potential hazards.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was rated as non-compensable from June 22, 2015 to April 22, 2018. The Veteran is seeking an increased rating for this period.,For the period after April 22, 2018, the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability has not been rated higher than 40 percent.