Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the claims for further development to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicides in Panama and/or the Canal Zone between April 1968 and May 1969 at Fort Gulick. Additional development must be conducted in compliance with M21-1MR, Part IV, Subpart ii, Chapter 2, Section C, para. 10(n).

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical opinions and further development is needed.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's current kidney disorder, including considering VA treatment records and obtaining medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and kidney disease are service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service. His bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus do not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service, is granted for accrued benefits purposes. The non-service connected pension claim is denied as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for permanent and total disability.

The Veteran's kidney failure and rejection of the transplanted kidney are not deemed to be caused by VA care, resulting in a denial of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's right kidney disability was not productive of hydronephrosis with frequent attacks of colic, requiring catheter drainage; or renal dysfunction; or recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections requiring drainage/frequent hospitalization and/or requiring continuous intensive management prior to August 6, 2009. From and after August 6, 2009, the function of the Veteran's remaining kidney has been normal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal disease is proximately due to medications prescribed for his service-connected low back disability, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder and kidney disorders as due to an undiagnosed illness or other qualifying chronic disability occurring in a Persian Gulf Veteran. The Veteran's gastritis, right knee instability, limitation of flexion, and post-total knee replacement have been rated at the maximum available benefit.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability and left ankle trauma are being remanded due to inadequate examination opinions, incomplete development of private treatment records, and the need for further consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the claimed conditions, but did not specify a rating or effective date.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for kidney disorder, hypertension, and gout. The evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and his active service or presumed herbicide agent exposure.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral kidney cysts, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service.,The RO reduced the Veteran's rating for coronary artery disease from 60% to 30%, but this decision was later found to be void ab initio.

The Veteran's claimed conditions have not been linked to service, and the Board finds that these claims are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right kidney disorder in June 1998, and this decision is final. New evidence submitted since then does not establish a link between the claimed condition and military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board denied service connection for kidney and heart disabilities based on the absence of evidence showing these conditions during or after military service.

The Veteran wishes to discontinue his appeal regarding the reopening of a claim for service connection for kidney/ureter disorder with neurogenic bladder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for stenosis of the middle infundibulum of the left kidney with enuresis, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision also addressed whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a previously denied claim for stenosis of the middle infundibulum of the left kidney with enuresis.

The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus with cataracts and retinopathy was denied. The Board found that the current 20 percent rating adequately reflects the Veteran's disability, as he does not require regulation of his activities due to diabetes.