Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for SMC (o) and need for regular aid and attendance was granted. The Veteran has been in receipt of the correct payment for his combined disability rating since August 2005.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and increased ratings due to insufficient notice being provided to the appellant. The claims will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's kidney disability, and a VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed as he has withdrawn his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected left kidney disability has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, heart disability, cholesterol, and peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found no evidence of in-service diagnosis or treatment related to these conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as COPD exacerbation, with diabetes mellitus type II and renal insufficiency also contributing. The Board has requested additional records to determine if the diabetes contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for segmental glomerulosclerosis, finding that there was no causal link between his current condition and active duty service, including exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC). The Veteran must be advised of the time limit for filing a substantive appeal.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and disability ratings related to squamous cell carcinoma, hypertension with renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, and PTSD due to his withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision.

The claim for service connection for kidney stones is reopened, but the appeal remains remanded due to insufficient evidence. The claims for renal disease and systemic arthritis are also remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of evidence supporting his assertions, including right kidney removal, seizure disorder, and serotonin syndrome.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by an underlying undiagnosed heart disease due to his exposure to herbicide agents in service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam. The claims for hypertension, hepatitis B, kidney stones, hemochromatosis, and malaria are remanded.

The Veteran's hypertension and left renal cell carcinoma were denied service connection as they are not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents or petroleum, nor is there evidence of direct service connection.

The Veteran's hypertension, atherosclerosis, and chronic kidney disease are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty or within one year of separation.,Calluses on the bilateral feet were granted service connection based on continuity of symptomatology since service. The Veteran’s cerebral vascular accident is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it began in service.,The remaining issues (left ankle, right ankle, left foot, and right foot conditions) are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected CAD with congestive heart failure. Service connection for renal failure is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death is being remanded for further review due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and his death.

The Board denied an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for the Veteran's hypertensive cardiovascular disease with hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to hypertensive nephrosclerosis, finding that his METs were not measured at 3 or less and his ejection fraction was not less than 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent, but no higher, for left knee chondromalacia with degenerative arthritis is granted. The Veteran is not entitled to a higher rating due to the presence of flare-ups during which he cannot use his knee at all.