Citation Nr: 21007777 Decision Date: 02/10/21 Archive Date: 02/10/21 DOCKET NO. 19-06 148 DATE: February 10, 2021 ORDER Service connection for glaucoma is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran’s glaucoma is related to his diabetes. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria are met for service connection for glaucoma on a secondary causation basis. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.310. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served on active duty from June 1967 to June 1969. This appeal is from a January 2018 rating decision. In August 2019, this claim was remanded for additional development, which has been completed. Service connection for glaucoma is granted. Service connection is granted for any current disability that is the result of a disease contracted or an injury sustained while on active duty service. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 1131; 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(a). Service connection may also be granted for a disease diagnosed after discharge, where all the evidence, including that pertinent to service, establishes that the disease was incurred in service. 38 C.F.R. § 3.303(d). Service connection also is permissible on a secondary basis for disability that is proximately due to, the result of, or aggravated by a service-connected disability. 38 C.F.R. § 3.310. To prevail on the issue of entitlement to secondary service connection, there must be (1) evidence of a current disability; (2) evidence of a service-connected disability; and, (3) nexus evidence establishing a connection between the service-connected disability and the current disability. Wallin v. West, 11 Vet. App. 509, 512 (1998). The Veteran is diagnosed with glaucoma. He asserts it is related to his service-connected diabetes. Following the Board’s August 2019 remand, VA examination opinions were obtained. In December 2019, one VA examiner opined that glaucoma was as likely as not related to diabetes. She cited a study conducted by an expert in glaucoma who found that people with diabetes were 35 percent more likely to develop glaucoma than non-diabetes sufferers. In August 2020, a different VA examiner opined that glaucoma was less likely as not related to diabetes, and more likely related to hereditary factors. The Board notes that, although another thing might be a more likely etiological factor, stating this fact does not obviate the need to comment on whether there is a relationship to the injury or incident in service. This examiner did not provide any further explanation for disagreeing with the December 2019 positive opinion, and the Board finds it less probative than the December 2019 VA examination opinion. Previous examinations of record are similarly less probative than the December 2019 VA examination opinion. The November 2018 opinion is based on a lack of documentation of a relationship, which is an insufficient basis and shows no consideration of the question asked. The December 2018 VA examination opinion is based on an inaccurate factual premise, that the Veteran entered service with glaucoma, which is not the case. The January 2019 VA examiner opined that she could not provide an opinion without having examined his eyes prior to the development of glaucoma. In sum, the most probative etiological opinion relates the Veteran’s glaucoma to his diabetes. Accordingly, secondary service connection for glaucoma is granted. Nathaniel J. Doan Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board A. Gibson The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.