Glaucoma decisions — 2019

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for glaucoma. The Board finds that his claim of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in prior rating actions is intertwined with the earlier effective date claim, so both should be considered together.

The Board has remanded the earlier effective date claims for all service-connected disabilities, including diabetic nephropathy with hypertension, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathies, and chronic ischemic heart disease. The appeal is related to the timing of when these conditions were granted as service connected.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and medical opinions regarding his service-connected conditions, including migraine headaches, glaucoma, sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sexual dysfunction, PTSD, and chronic pancreatitis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-glaucoma condition during service is the initial manifestation of his current glaucoma, and thus grants service connection for glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an eye disorder, including glaucoma, and for aggravation of a service-connected condition (hypertension). The case is sent back to obtain additional medical opinions.

The Board has decided that a remand is necessary to obtain private medical records and a more contemporaneous VA examination for the Veteran's cataracts and glaucoma.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate rationale in VA opinions regarding whether the Veteran's glaucoma is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, a cardiac disorder (including ischemic heart disease and atrial fibrillation), a respiratory condition (dyspnea), and bilateral-eye disorders (diabetic retinopathy, partial blindness, glaucoma, cataracts) due to diabetes. The Board also denied service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the right-lower extremity.,The Board found that there was no evidence linking hypertension or a cardiac disorder to service or service-connected conditions and thus denied these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lower back condition has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma, secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, has been reopened due to the submission of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for increased rating and service connection due to incomplete information, including missing VA treatment records and SSA decision. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records and conduct further development as needed.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, low back disability, degenerative joint disease of the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles. The Veteran's diagnoses were not linked to his military service.,Service connection was also denied for hypertension, memory disorder, acquired psychiatric disability (major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder), chronic myositis, paravertebral cervical spine, diabetic neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and glaucoma.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for glaucoma and cataracts, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his in-service corneal scarring.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral glaucoma with retinopathy is currently rated at 40 percent disabling. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on visual impairment or incapacitating episodes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound. The Board found that the Veteran does not have an anatomical loss, blindness in both eyes with visual acuity of 5/200 or less, is not permanently bedridden due to a service-connected disability, nor is he so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of residuals of a right hand injury, bilateral plantar fasciitis, and skin disability due to exposure at Camp Lejeune were denied. The claim for service connection of bilateral glaucoma was also denied.