{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/conditions/glaucoma","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:29:05.396Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"condition":"Glaucoma","all_conditions_granted_pct":19.4,"decisions":3296,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":10.8,"denied_pct":33.4,"remanded_pct":54.7,"granted_on_merits_pct":24.5,"by_year":[{"year":2017,"issues":238,"granted_pct":8.4,"denied_pct":37.4,"remanded_pct":50.8},{"year":2018,"issues":323,"granted_pct":8.7,"denied_pct":39.3,"remanded_pct":48},{"year":2019,"issues":404,"granted_pct":8.9,"denied_pct":35.9,"remanded_pct":53.5},{"year":2020,"issues":455,"granted_pct":6.8,"denied_pct":34.7,"remanded_pct":56.5},{"year":2021,"issues":406,"granted_pct":10.1,"denied_pct":36.9,"remanded_pct":51.5},{"year":2022,"issues":402,"granted_pct":10.9,"denied_pct":28.6,"remanded_pct":59.2},{"year":2023,"issues":418,"granted_pct":13.4,"denied_pct":25.6,"remanded_pct":58.9},{"year":2024,"issues":317,"granted_pct":7.6,"denied_pct":33.8,"remanded_pct":57.4},{"year":2025,"issues":317,"granted_pct":18.6,"denied_pct":28.4,"remanded_pct":51.7},{"year":2026,"issues":143,"granted_pct":18.9,"denied_pct":30.8,"remanded_pct":49}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.8,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":361,"granted_pct_with":51.2,"granted_pct_without":18.9},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":2337,"granted_pct_with":22.2,"granted_pct_without":33.1},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":427,"granted_pct_with":58.7,"granted_pct_without":16.2},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":1803,"granted_pct_with":21,"granted_pct_without":29.9},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":927,"granted_pct_with":34.2,"granted_pct_without":19.4},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":124,"granted_pct_with":48.5,"granted_pct_without":23.3},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":2422,"granted_pct_with":21.2,"granted_pct_without":38.3},{"evidence":"buddy_statement","decisions_with":63,"granted_pct_with":43.8,"granted_pct_without":24},{"evidence":"combat_service","decisions_with":199,"granted_pct_with":23.3,"granted_pct_without":24.5}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":52},{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":12},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":8},{"reason":"service connection granted","decisions":4},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":3},{"reason":"criteria for entitlement met","decisions":3}],"denied":[{"reason":"no in-service complaints, treatment or diagnosis","decisions":152},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":145},{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":133},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":68},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":40},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":40}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"26005102","year":2026,"judge":"NATHANIEL DOAN","rationale":"Aggravated by service-connected PTSD; Favored August 2024 VA opinion linking stress to eye conditions; Overruled negative VA opinions that relied on age and general risk factors"},{"case_id":"A26037772","year":2026,"judge":"VICTORIA MOSHIASHWILI","rationale":"Evidence approximated criteria for 20 percent rating; Benefit of doubt applied due to balanced evidence; Veteran's statements found competent and credible"},{"case_id":"A26033415","year":2026,"judge":"CYNTHIA M. BRUCE","rationale":"Evidence in equipoise; Benefit of the doubt applied; In-service refractive error and subsequent glaucoma diagnosis; Potential exacerbation from service-connected psychiatric disorder and orthopedic conditions"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26005083","year":2026,"judge":"G. A. WASIK","rationale":"STRs do not document ongoing glaucoma or residuals from in-service left eye injury.; VA ophthalmologists opined less likely than not related to service.; Private orthopedic surgeon's opinion deemed speculative and lacking expertise in ocular diseases."},{"case_id":"A26037936","year":2026,"judge":"L. HOWELL","rationale":"No nexus to service; No continuity of symptomatology; In-service event transient and resolved"},{"case_id":"A26036960","year":2026,"judge":"ERIC S. LEBOFF","rationale":"No nexus to service established; VA examiner opinion against service connection found competent and credible; Veteran's lay statements outweighed by VA opinion"}]},"how_va_rates":null,"rules":[]}}