Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for kidney stones and remanded the issue of rating an initial disability for a back condition.

The Board has determined that additional examinations and development are needed for the Veteran's psychiatric, kidney, diverticulosis, and hypertension claims. The VA will attempt to verify a claimed in-service stressor and schedule the Veteran for examinations to assess these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of kidney stones with horseshoe kidneys was denied in 1986 due to congenital origin and treatment during service. New evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,Service connection for a sleep condition is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for GERD was dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeal. The claims for bilateral hearing loss, calculus of the kidney, and renal disease were denied as they did not meet the criteria for service connection. The claim for sleep apnea (secondary to diabetes mellitus) is remanded.

The Veteran's renal dysfunction, as a predominant residual of his prostate cancer, is granted an increased rating to 60 percent from December 1, 2014.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to fully and fairly consider the issues of service connection for various conditions, including arthritis of the hands, right hip, flat feet, plantar fasciitis, kidney cysts, left breast cyst (cyst), ovarian cysts, and liver cyst, hemangioma. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and to schedule her for examinations to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied because there is no evidence that the condition was caused by in-service noise exposure. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also denied as he does not meet the schedular requirements and has not provided information about his employment status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, status post nephrectomy, finding that there was no evidence of a causal relationship between his in-service exposure to asbestos, hydraulic fluid, PCBs, or benzene and his current kidney disability.

Service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claims for asbestos related pleural disease, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the claims for kidney cancer and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure as there is insufficient medical evidence to determine if these conditions are related to such exposure. The appellant will need to provide an addendum opinion from a VA examiner regarding the relationship between the diagnosed disorders and exposure to defoliation agents.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a kidney condition with renal insufficiency, service connection for hypertension, nerves, and a bilateral eye condition are being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the claims for COPD and heart disability.,No specific rating or effective date was assigned in this decision.

The Board has withdrawn the claims of right hip disability and acne. The remaining issues have been remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed. The Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed stomach disorder, kidney disease including nephrolithiasis, prostate disorders and erectile dysfunction, cerebral aneurysm, or psychiatric disorder. Service connection has also been denied for headaches.

The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease and prostate cancer, finding no evidence of radiation exposure or a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a right knee disability, and a kidney disorder have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a current diagnosis of PTSD or other mental health conditions related to military service, and there was no chronicity of symptoms since service. For the right knee disability, the Veteran's arthritis was not shown within one year of separation from service, and continuity of symptomatology could not be established. The kidney disorder claim is pending as it has not been addressed in detail.

The Board has determined that the VA opinions are inadequate and remands the cases for further examination to determine if the Veteran's conditions are related to his service or exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and the shell fragment wounds issue. The appellant is seeking service connection for both causes.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for tinnitus, heart disability (including ischemic heart disease and coronary artery disease), obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability. The Veteran is to be provided with a VA examination regarding his claimed tinnitus.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension and renal disability, as these conditions are related to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran needs to provide authorization for VA to obtain his private treatment records from San Cristobal Hospital and undergo a medical examination.