Kidney disease decisions — 2016

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including consideration of a VA medical opinion regarding residuals of stroke and adjudication of the kidney disease claim as secondary to stroke.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The remaining claims of service connection for hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and associated complications, necessitate the need for regular aid and attendance of another person to manage his insulin pump and administer insulin.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The claim will be remanded for further action.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected left kidney calyceal stone and his death, as well as whether any other service-connected conditions contributed to his death. The appellant will be given an opportunity to provide additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical addendum opinion to address whether the Veteran's kidney disorder was aggravated by his service-connected coronary artery disease, and for further development as needed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and he is entitled to separate compensable ratings for hypertension and diabetic kidney disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, lung cancer, COPD, and renal cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides in service.

The Veteran meets the percentage requirements for TDIU due to one service-connected disability rated at 60 percent or more, and his cognitive disorder has rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that additional service records are needed to determine if the Veteran was present in or around Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Japan during his service. The appeal will be remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that his end-stage renal failure, transitional cell cancer, heart failure, and coronary artery disease were not related to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine the type of radiation exposure, if any, and whether it may be related to the Veteran's kidney and thyroid cancers. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, retinopathy, hypertension, edema of the legs and feet, renal failure, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and neuropathy of the upper extremities have all been denied. The appeals are based on secondary service connection claims.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if he has a current kidney disability related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hypertension. The issue of service connection for a kidney mass (claimed as a renal cyst) is also inextricably intertwined with the claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including scheduling a hearing. The claims of increased evaluations and effective date are pending.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatocellular carcinoma, a kidney spleen shunt, and hepatitis B. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and atrial fibrillation are granted service connection as they were caused by his service-connected diabetes. The cause of the Veteran's death (congestive heart failure) is also granted service connection due to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, DM, a heart condition, erectile dysfunction, an eye disorder, and a kidney condition. The Veteran's conditions are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.