Glaucoma decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension, BPH, cervical spine disorder, lumbar spine disorder, bilateral hip disorders, neuropathies of any extremities, glaucoma and cataracts, and heart disorder due to inadequate examination opinions that did not consider the Veteran's work as a combat engineer in service. The claims are being remanded again for new examination opinions with appropriate rationales.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral open angle glaucoma, bilateral cataracts, kidney disability, heart disability, right hip disability, and left hip disability. Service connection was granted for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to potential eligibility for SMC under certain criteria. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are being evaluated in detail.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma was rated at 30 percent prior to July 31, 2019 and denied for higher ratings. From July 31, 2019 to October 20, 2020, the rating remained at 30 percent and was also denied for higher ratings. After October 20, 2020, the Veteran's glaucoma continued to be rated at 30 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the Veteran's bilateral eye condition, including cataracts and other related conditions. The VA is instructed to obtain a supplemental opinion from an appropriate examiner to determine if any current eye condition is causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for a retrospective medical opinion to assess whether the Veteran required regular aid and attendance due to service-connected disabilities other than loss of use of both feet. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather the effective date for SMC at the R-1 rate.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed eye disabilities, including glaucoma and cataracts.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities prevented him from obtaining and maintaining gainful employment since December 3, 2003. The TDIU claim is granted for the period from December 3, 2003 to January 31, 2016.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral eye disability, a rating in excess of 20 percent for left shoulder strain, synovitis, rotator cuff impingement syndrome, tendonitis, labral tear, and degenerative joint disease, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and outstanding VA treatment records.

The Veteran's hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and chronic headache disability are granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide exposure.,Bladder cancer, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, bilateral pes planus, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, erectile dysfunction, gout, and back disability are denied as not related to service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral eye disability, including glaucoma and cataracts, has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal prior to a hearing.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral glaucoma and alcohol dependence in remission (claimed as anxiety and sleep problems). The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability related to these conditions, and that any such disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service.,The decision also noted that the Veteran did not submit sufficient evidence to support his claims for bilateral glaucoma and alcohol dependence in remission (claimed as anxiety and sleep problems).

The Board has denied service connection for warts of the right elbow, left elbow, left shoulder, and right shoulder. The Veteran's warts are not considered to have begun during active service or be related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for bilateral open angle glaucoma and hypertension is also denied as there is no evidence showing these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his bilateral eye disability, including primary open angle glaucoma, nuclear sclerotic cataract, and peripheral corneal degeneration. The medical opinion provided by the examiner found that these conditions are less likely than not related to any in-service event, injury, or illness.

The Veteran's glaucoma is granted service connection. The issues of service connection for uveitis and cataracts are remanded.