Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for renal cancer, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service or exposure in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board has dismissed appeals for lack of stamina, obstructive sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, bilateral hearing loss, and erectile dysfunction. Appeals for hypertension (secondary to PTSD), kidney failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and a chronic kidney disorder due to insufficient evidence in their favor.

The Veteran's renal insufficiency and microscopic hematuria are remanded for further examination to determine their etiology.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed to determine if the Veteran's left kidney nephrectomy is related to his service, including presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus due to herbicide exposure. The remaining issues have been remanded as additional evidence is needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service noise exposure. The Board also requested a new opinion regarding whether his respiratory failure, pulmonary congestion, congestive heart failure, pulmonary fibrosis, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, and chronic kidney condition were related to his service or other factors.

The Board has found that the Veteran's hypertension is not service-connected. Therefore, service connection for chest pain and erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension is not warranted. The Veteran is not otherwise precluded from establishing service connection with proof of direct causation.

The appeals regarding service connection and disability evaluations have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The petition to reopen a previously denied claim of service connection for nephrolithiasis (claimed as kidney stones) based on the submission of new and material evidence is granted. The appeal is granted to this extent only, with the issue of service connection for nephrolithiasis being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left kidney disorder was denied in June 1964 due to the absence of albuminuria at separation. The Board found that the correct facts were before the adjudicator and that there was no CUE, thus denying the earlier effective date request.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is denied because there is no evidence of additional disability resulting from VA treatment, and the Board finds that any potential complications were not due to negligence or unforeseeable events.

The Board has determined that additional medical examinations and records are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed heart disorder, hypertension, circulatory system disorders, gastroparesis, and kidney disorder. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Veteran's kidney stones and hypothyroidism were not incurred or aggravated by service, as the evidence does not support a finding that they had their onset during active duty or within one year of separation from service. The Board found clear and unmistakable evidence that these conditions pre-existed service.

The Veteran's service connection for blindness in both eyes, high blood pressure, and left kidney disability have been reopened. The rating for diabetes mellitus type II has been reduced from 60% to 20%, effective June 23, 2013. The Veteran's abdominal muscle disability and gunshot wound residuals of the left back have been granted increased ratings.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to insufficient evidence, including failure of the Veteran to report to scheduled VA examinations. The AOJ is required to obtain medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran’s conditions are related to his service in Vietnam (Agent Orange exposure), diabetes, or heart disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer is granted, and the case is remanded to determine if it is related to his in-service herbicide exposure. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for generalized fungus infection is also remanded.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its related complications, as the evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension, renal dysfunction, and neurological impairment of the bilateral lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus due to insufficient medical opinions.