Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of the Veteran's kidney condition or residuals, including considering his in-service kidney issues and surgery.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to ischemic cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus, which are diseases presumed to be caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Veteran's service in Vietnam is also conceded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of compliance with its July 2016 remand order regarding an addendum opinion from the VA examiner.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney disability, anemia, and urinary incontinence due to new evidence. The cases are remanded for further development including VA examinations.

The Board is remanding the case to further evaluate whether the Veteran's acute renal failure and diabetes mellitus are related to his service, including as due to exposure to benzene in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities have been reopened, but denied as there is no evidence to support a nexus with active service.,Service connection has been granted for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, left upper extremity, right lower extremity, and left lower extremity due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's back and tonsillitis/acid reflux disabilities are denied service connection, but his kidney disability is granted as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's kidney cancer and chronic kidney disease were not shown to be related to service, leading to a denial of these claims.,PTSD with alcohol dependence was rated at 50 percent but the Veteran requested an increased rating. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal for all conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various psychiatric and physical disabilities, including right shoulder pain, back pain, neck pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, sleep apnea, hepatitis C, kidney or renal failure, prostate cancer, and unspecified depressive disorder. The reasons provided include lack of in-service evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's cause of death is attributed to acute on chronic renal failure due to or as a consequence of hypertension, with other significant conditions contributing to his death including COPD, Marfan syndrome, and gastrointestinal bleed. The Board finds service connection for the cause of death is warranted.

The Board denied service connection for renal disease, finding that the Veteran's condition is not related to his military service and there is no evidence of a link between his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and his current renal disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, bilateral plantar fasciitis, right knee tendonitis, left knee damaged meniscus, and right knee instability, render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted the TDIU based on these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and opinion regarding the etiology of the kidney disorder. The Veteran's claim for service connection is pending.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence that his diabetes or prostate cancer caused the septic shock, renal failure, hepatic failure and Klebsiella infection. The Board found conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, and she is now receiving TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is not established. The VA examiner noted conflicting evidence regarding this condition.,Service connection for bilateral fungus in the external ears is not established due to lack of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for nosebleeds is not established as no etiological opinion was provided by any VA examiner.,Service connection for asthma is not established. The Veteran's service records suggest LEEP was related to cervical dysplasia, but HPV status is unclear.,Service connection for renal cyst, left side is not established due to lack of a current diagnosis and the possibility that urinary frequency issues may be unrelated to the cyst.,Service connection for status post cervix loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is pending as it requires clarification regarding HPV status.,The Veteran's right knee tendonitis and osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 8, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent since then. The VA examination did not comply with the requirements for a remand.,The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 0 percent (non-compensable). The VA examination did not comply with the requirements for a remand.,The Veteran's left shoulder scars are currently rated as non-compensable. A new VA examination is needed to determine the number and nature of her shoulder scars and their associated symptoms.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation in service, and for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his current disabilities, including back disability, bowel obstruction, osteoarticular infection, CKD, depression, bilateral knee and shoulder conditions, and malnutrition, were caused by a perforated bowel resulting from a VA colonoscopy in November 2011.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, diabetes mellitus type 2, kidney condition, cardiomyopathy, and hypertension have all been denied.,There is no credible supporting evidence of in-service stressors underlying the diagnosis of PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, claimed as the result of herbicide agent exposure, has been reopened. However, further development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated.