diabetes Glacuoma And Diabetes Connection

[OnRiver]

I have been diagnosed with glaucoma and diabetes. the eye DR. who did the C&P eye exam wrote that it was less likely as not that the diabetes caused the glaucoma....he then wrote less thAN 50% pobability. I have seen numerious articles on diabetes causing glauciome...does his statement mean thatr I will not receive any compensation. Actually I never put in for my glacuoma they just examined me. Thanks......

[john999]

Onriver

Diabetes and eye problems go hand in hand. Since I have DMII the VA sends me for a complete eye exam every year. Go get a independent medical opinion outside the VA system.

[Guest DON20906]

From glaucoma.org:

Diabetes and Glaucoma

The relationship between diabetes and open-angle glaucoma (the most common type of glaucoma), has intrigued researchers for years. People with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma as are non-diabetics, although some current research is beginning to call this into question. Similarly, the likelihood of someone with open-angle glaucoma developing diabetes is higher than that of a person without the eye disease.

Neovascular glaucoma, a rare type of glaucoma, is always associated with other abnormalities, diabetes being the most common. In some cases of diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels on the retina are damaged. The retina manufactures new, abnormal blood vessels.

Neovascular glaucoma can occur if these new blood vessels grow on the iris (the colored part of the eye), closing off the fluid flow in the eye and raising the eye pressure. Neovascular glaucoma is a difficult disease to treat. One option is laser surgery to reduce abnormal blood vessels on the iris and on the retinal surface. Recent studies have also shown some success with the use of drainage implants.

Onriver

Diabetes and eye problems go hand in hand. Since I have DMII the VA sends me for a complete eye exam every year. Go get a independent medical opinion outside the VA system.

[vaf]

If there's enough information in the VA doctor's statement to explain how he reached the conclusion he did, you would have a better chance of disputing it with an independent medical opinion. An IMO doctor could specifically address the VA doctor's findings and dispute them.

But definitely file a claim. In fact, if you have a copy of the VA doctor's findings, you can include it along with an IMO that disputes it in your initial filing. Others may disagree, but I think it might save you some time at the VARO level, since you already know what's coming.

[OnRiver]

Thanks for all the help and I will claim it. I wonder why they even say less than 50% as that could be 49%...does anyone know why they use such language. Thanks again.....