Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that the Veteran's time at Camp Lejeune was less than the required duration to qualify for presumptive service connection and that there is no evidence linking his current disability to military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a back disorder, respiratory disorder (asbestosis), hypertension, kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus, left and right lower extremity disorders, are all denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses or service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for other specified depressive disorder with other specified anxiety disorder was denied as the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher disability rating.,Service connection for renal insufficiency was denied because there is no evidence of current renal dysfunction and the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of renal insufficiency.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney disease and bladder cancer has been dismissed as the issue is no longer in appellate status due to a full and final determination.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for increased ratings in excess of 30 percent for kidney disability and in excess of 70 percent for psychiatric disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether a service-connected condition caused or contributed to the Veteran's death. The appellant is seeking service connection for cause of death, and additional development is needed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for polycystic kidney disease has been reopened. The ratings for PTSD, lumbar spine disability, and right knee patellofemoral syndrome have been remanded.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and psychiatric disability are being remanded for further development.,His back disorder is also being remanded, as it may be related to his service-connected kidney disorder.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to service-connected DM, type II. PTSD and MDD are granted due to combat service in Vietnam. The claim for hypertension is reopened.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bladder cancer and renal clear cell cancer, as they are related to Agent Orange exposure during service. The case is sent back for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diarrhea was denied. For the initial rating period from June 7, 2013, a noncompensable (0%) disability rating for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) with polycystic kidney disease was granted.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of kidney stones and the Board finds that his service connection claim for kidney stones is denied.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issue of service connection for cause of death because no VA examiner has opined whether the Veteran’s service-connected diabetes mellitus II and coronary artery disease contributed to his cause of death. The Veteran's death certificate lists renal failure as the immediate cause of death with severe end stage liver disease and severe congestive heart failure listed as other significant conditions contributing to death.

The Board dismissed all the issues related to service connection and increased evaluations due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability for at least eight years prior, thus denying Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits at the enhanced rate.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for a bilateral elbow disability, knee disability, hand disability, liver disability, weight gain, carcinoma of the abdominal cavity status post-surgical removal, kidney disability, and psoriasis. The remand is due to incomplete STRs and inadequate VA opinions regarding the onset and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic renal disease is remanded due to the inextricability of the issue with his hypertension. The PTSD and TDIU claims are also remanded as there is conflicting evidence regarding the severity of his PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his cancer.

The Veteran was granted service connection for Parkinson’s disease, hypothyroidism, gastric infection, and adrenal insufficiency and hormonal imbalance.,Service connection is also granted for carpal tunnel syndrome of the left upper extremity.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to address the nature and etiology of the Veteran's cause of death, including his service-connected bilateral upper and lower extremity cold weather injury residuals.