Citation Nr: 21021473 Decision Date: 04/13/21 Archive Date: 04/13/21 DOCKET NO. 17-39 760 DATE: April 13, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for glaucoma is denied. FINDING OF FACT The probative evidence of record indicates that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s glaucoma is due to his period of service. CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for service connection for glaucoma have not been met. 38 U.S.C. § 1110, 1131, 5103, 5107; 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served active duty in the United States Air Force from May 1963 to October 1975. In May 2019, the Veteran testified before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge at a Video Conference hearing. A copy of the transcript has been associated with the claims file. In February 2020 and December 2020, the Board remanded the appeal for further development. 1. Service connection for glaucoma The Veteran contends that his glaucoma is due to his period of service. Specifically, the Veteran asserts that his glaucoma is due to an in-service head injury. The question for the Board is whether the Veteran has a current disability that began during service or is at least as likely as not related to an in-service injury, event, or disease. The Board finds that the evidence is insufficient to establish a relationship between the Veteran’s current diagnosis of glaucoma and his period of service. At the outset, the Board notes that, during the appeal period, the Veteran asserted that his glaucoma was related to herbicide exposure. However, in a November 2020 Report of General Information, the Veteran reported that, after consultation with several doctors, he agrees that his glaucoma is likely not caused by herbicide agent exposure. As the Veteran no longer asserts and the evidence does not indicate that the Veteran’s glaucoma is due to herbicide exposure, analysis will turn to direct service connection. In a July 1975 service treatment record, the examiner noted that the Veteran was treated for head trauma in 1965 due to falling on ice and being struck by aircraft. The July 1975 separation examination report of history shows complaint of eye trouble. In a January 2021 VA examination, the examiner stated that the Veteran’s glaucoma is diagnosed as open angle glaucoma and is determined to be related to elevated intraocular pressure. The examiner also stated that the Veteran’s glaucoma was extensively treated with measures to reduce ocular pressure, including medicated glaucoma eye drops as well as glaucoma surgery to include shunt/bleb. The examiner reported that there is no evidence of neurological cause of optic nerve changes, and multiple eye doctors have attributed optic nerve/visual field changes to open angle glaucoma attributed to intraocular pressure. The examiner concluded that head trauma reported in military service has no relationship to primary open angle glaucoma, and no nexus is established. In a January 2021 VA addendum opinion, the examiner opined that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s condition of glaucoma is due to an in-service event or complaint documented on separation physical. The examiner noted that glaucoma was diagnosed first in 2003 with reported symptoms preceding by one to three months. The examiner also noted that the Veteran’s separation examination 28 years earlier in 1975 found no ocular pathology. The separation examination did, however, report eye symptoms of headache a year earlier, which had resolved. The examiner stated that there is no further evidence found or presented which would connect symptoms reported in service 29 years prior to the glaucoma first diagnosed in 2003. The examiner concluded, therefore, that it is less likely than not that the Veteran’s glaucoma is due to or present during military service. After reviewing the record, the Board finds that the evidence weighs against service connection for glaucoma. The medical evidence indicates that the Veteran’s current diagnosis of glaucoma is less likely than not related to the Veteran’s period of service, to include head trauma reported during service. The Board finds the January 2021 VA examination and subsequent opinions to be probative in nature in that they consider both the Veteran’s in-service and post service records in formulating these opinions and provide adequate rationale for the findings. Therefore, as the probative evidence of record weighs against a finding of service connection, service connection for glaucoma is not warranted. The Board has considered the Veteran’s contention that his period of service resulted in his glaucoma. Although lay persons are competent to provide opinions on some medical issues, as to the specific issue in this case, determining the etiology of glaucoma falls outside the realm of common knowledge of a lay person. See Kahana v. Shinseki, 24Vet. App.428,435 (2011). In this regard, while the Veteran can competently report his symptoms, any opinion regarding whether the Veteran’s glaucoma is related to his service requires medical expertise that the Veteran has not demonstrated. See Jandreau v. Nicholson, 492 F. 3d 1372, 1376 (2007). As such, the Board assigns no probative weight to the Veteran’s assertions that his glaucoma is related to his military service. JENNIFER HWA Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board C. Ford 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.