Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to metastatic colon carcinoma, but remanded for further development as a medical opinion is needed regarding whether his service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to cause his death.

The Veteran's appeals for PTSD, increased rating for chronic lumbar sprain with associated right lower extremity radiculopathy, and kidney condition were dismissed. The appeals for service connection for a right shoulder condition, sinus condition, obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, and erectile dysfunction are remanded.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating. The Veteran also meets the requirements for TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has identified multiple issues for remand due to the addition of new VA medical records not previously considered in the decision.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: kidney disease service connection, PTSD rating increase, and PTSD effective date. The Veteran's STRs are incomplete and need to be obtained. A VA examination is needed for the diagnosis of kidney disease related to in-service events. A retrospective opinion on PTSD onset is also required.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset of renal cell carcinoma and its relation to service. The Veteran's condition is currently under review.

The Veteran's kidney stones and renal cysts are currently diagnosed, but the RO denied service connection due to lack of direct evidence. The case is remanded for a VA examination to consider presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, and it will be reviewed again at the RO level.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and renal disease, finding that the conditions did not manifest to a compensable degree in service or within presumptive periods, continuity of symptomatology was not established, and there was no causal relationship between the conditions and service. The Veteran's hypertension is presumed unrelated to herbicide exposure, while his renal disease is not on the list of diseases associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and a kidney disability due to insufficient development. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence, including verification of herbicide exposure during service and an opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of cancer of the renal pelvis, right knee disability, CAD, and type 2 diabetes mellitus due to incomplete medical opinions and additional evidence. The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is claimed as secondary to his renal pelvis cancer.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer with left kidney removal is remanded due to missing medical records from his treatment providers.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with anxiety is rated at 50% from October 28, 2015. The service connection for a condition of kidneys (diabetes secondary) and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA care, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for the cause of his death. The case is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding the relationship between PTSD and alcohol abuse.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disability, bilateral knee disorders, and initial compensable rating for ureterolithiasis (kidney stones) due to incomplete development. The Veteran must provide private treatment records from 2014 onward related to his conditions, and he must be afforded VA examinations with imaging studies.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as there was no service connection for the conditions that led to his death, and exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam is not established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with renal insufficiency, coronary artery disease status post stent placement, and hypertension due to Agent Orange exposure has been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims due to incomplete information regarding his service dates and medical records. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for kidney cysts, service connection for prostate cancer, and service connection for hepatitis B are being sent back for further development.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for renal insufficiency was denied. The Board also remanded the claims regarding service connection for residuals of dental trauma affecting all teeth other than #6, 7, 8 and 9 including as secondary to service-connected teeth, and total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The appeals for neck tumor and urinary cancer have been dismissed. The appeals for bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, kidney cystic disease, and anemia (secondary to kidney cystic disease) are remanded.