Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about the relationship between the Veteran's kidney disease and his military service, including exposure to foreign material or environmental toxins. The appellant needs to provide more evidence for a favorable decision.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including left knee and foot disabilities, right knee disability, arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, chronic liver disease, pancreatitis, atherosclerotic renal disease (chronic kidney disease), diabetes mellitus type II, psychiatric disorders, headaches, and sleep apnea. The decision was based on the absence of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and opinion regarding various service-connected disabilities, as well as for additional records to be obtained. The claims are not related to a specific exposure basis or the PACT Act.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is at least as likely as not due to herbicide exposure during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations, as well as a retrospective medical opinion regarding her ability to work prior to July 2, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence linking the condition to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with heart disease, renal dysfunction, and neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for bilateral renal lesions due to lack of new and material evidence. The claims for higher ratings for hip disabilities, right hip limitation of flexion, left hip limitation of flexion, and right hip limitation of internal rotation are remanded. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions, including gout, a respiratory disorder, hypertension, kidney disorder, diabetes mellitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder (bipolar disorder), and obesity. The remand requires additional development to address potential radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates have been denied. The rating for prolapsed stoma with stomal hernia remains at 20 percent, while the GERD with duodenal ulcer is rated as noncompensable.,The Veteran’s claim for a separate evaluation of colon cancer has been remanded. Service connection for renal failure was also remanded.

The Board has determined that the claims for service connection of right knee disorder, back disorder, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and skin disorder are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their onset in service or causation.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction is denied.,Service connection for diabetic nephropathy (claimed as renal dysfunction secondary to diabetes mellitus) is denied. The evidence does not show that the Veteran’s nephropathy is due to or caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus and it did not manifest within one year of separation from active duty service.,Service connection for diabetic retinopathy (claimed as bilateral eye disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus) is denied. The objective medical evidence does not show that the Veteran has a current disability of diabetic retinopathy.

The Board has granted service connection for renal dysfunction, chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease. The remaining issues of service connection for hydronephrosis, cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmia, hypertension, and anemia are remanded to allow further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand, and a medical opinion is needed to determine if his cause of death was related to his military service.

The Veteran's kidney cysts are related to his military service and specifically Gulf War Syndrome.,The Veteran's right knee disability is related to service or a service-connected foot condition.,The Veteran's left elbow disability (tendonitis) is related to service.,The Veteran's cervical spine disability is related to service.,The Veteran's right ankle disability is related to service and his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's lung disability is not likely due to environmental exposure in Southwest Asia, but may be related to Gulf War Syndrome or undiagnosed illness.,The Veteran's headaches are of unknown etiology, possibly related to chemical exposure in service.,The Veteran's disability of the left upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.,The Veteran's disability of the right upper extremity (intermittent numbness) is related to a military injury and/or his service-connected feet.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain missing records from September 2005, which may affect the earlier effective date for DIC benefits. The claims for accrued benefits and substitution are being referred to the AOJ.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cirrhosis of the liver has been reopened and is being remanded due to new evidence submitted since the last denial.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for esophageal varices remains denied as there is no current disability or established link to service.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine if service connection is warranted for ischemic heart disease, kidney stones, and chronic cholecystitis.

The Veteran and his representative withdrew their appeals for the issues of service connection for various conditions, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, essential hypertension, bilateral renal cysts, prostate disability, high cholesterol, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD).