Citation Nr: 18154474
Decision Date: 11/30/18	Archive Date: 11/29/18

DOCKET NO. 16-57 734
DATE:	November 30, 2018
REMANDED
Service connection for glaucoma is remanded.
 
REASONS FOR REMAND
The Veteran served on active duty from November 1984 to November 2004.  
This case is on appeal from a March 2015 rating decision. 
Service connection for glaucoma.
The Veteran is currently diagnosed with glaucoma which he contends had its onset in service.  He maintains that while in service, an eye doctor suspected that he had glaucoma.  See December 2016 VA Form 9.  In a December 1997 and a July 2004 Report of Medical History the Veteran reported that he possibly had glaucoma.  However, the Veteran’s service treatment records (STRs) show that glaucoma tests administered during active duty showed normal findings in July 2002 and November 2003.  As such, the Veteran should be afforded a VA examination on remand as the low threshold for obtaining an examination has been met.  See McLendon v. Nicholson, 20 Vet. App. 79, 81 (2006).
In light of the remand, any outstanding VA and private treatment records should be obtained.
The matter is REMANDED for the following action:
1. Obtain updated VA treatment records dated since February 2015.
2. Obtain and associate with the file any outstanding private treatment records, including from Silicon Valley Eye Physicians.  
3. Thereafter, schedule the Veteran for a VA examination by an appropriate medical professional to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s glaucoma.  The entire claims file must be reviewed by the examiner.  
The examiner should provide an opinion as to whether it as least a likely as not (a 50 percent or greater probability) that the Veteran’s glaucoma had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service. 
A complete rationale should be provided for all opinions reached.

 
RYAN T. KESSEL
Veterans Law Judge
Board of Veterans’ Appeals
ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD	E. Gray