Glaucoma decisions — 2022

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma, is rated at 90 percent after August 6, 2014. The appeal for a higher rating prior to that date has been denied.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for an additional right eye disability caused by a May 2016 VA eye procedure. The Board has ordered the remand to obtain and review all records, including the full informed consent document associated with the procedure, and to provide an addendum opinion regarding potential complications and causation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and bilateral glaucoma have been granted. The Board found that the current disabilities are related to active service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for bilateral open angle glaucoma and hypertension. The Veteran's eye disability is being evaluated for aggravation during service, while his hypertension case requires determining if he served in the territorial sea of Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims. The claim for hypertension is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for right eye glaucoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right eye angle recession with iridodonesis and lens subluxation. The claim of entitlement to a compensable initial rating for right eye angle recession is also granted, but remanded due to incomplete VA examination report. Service connection for left eye glaucoma and an acquired psychiatric disorder are both remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral glaucoma has been rated at 10 percent since September 1, 2010. The Board found that the current rating is appropriate as his visual acuity and field contraction have not met criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran is eligible for specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities, which include a lumbar spine disability and lower extremity radiculopathy. These conditions have resulted in significant mobility issues that preclude locomotion without the aid of assistive devices.

The Board denied service connection for tinnitus and a rating higher than 80 percent for bilateral open angle glaucoma with bilateral trachoma, but granted a separate 10 percent rating for madarosis of the left eyelash.,Service connection was not established for tinnitus as there is no evidence it began during or soon after service.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board granted service connection for hypertension, CKD, hypertensive retinopathy, glaucoma, retinal vein occlusion, epidermal cysts and comedones, and scars related to epidermal cysts. The remaining issues are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for glaucoma should be remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the condition is a congenital disease or defect, and if so, whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for glaucoma and a rating in excess of 20 percent for back strain. The Veteran's left and right lower extremity radiculopathy were granted a 20% rating from May 18, 2015 to June 2, 2021.,The Board also remanded the claim for an increased hearing loss rating.

The Board remands the claim for an eye disability to schedule a new VA examination and obtain medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed conditions, including whether they are related to service or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for bilateral open angle glaucoma prior to December 10, 2019 and granted a 20 percent rating after that date. The claim for pseudofolliculitis barbae was also denied.