Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected exposure to tactical herbicides, as well as whether this hypertension caused or aggravated his renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's recurrent right orchitis and epididymitis, along with renal tuberculosis, are currently rated at 10 percent. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding no evidence of a link to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for peripheral vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and a skin disorder due to Agent Orange exposure. Additional records are needed from VA and private sources, and examinations are required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bladder disorder, thyroid disorder, and right adrenal gland disorder due to inadequate examination findings. The VA examiner is instructed to provide opinions on whether these conditions are caused by exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune or Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease and microcytic anemia as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension. The decision is based on evidence showing a current disability (chronic renal disease and microcytic anemia) and a service-connected disability (diabetes mellitus, type II, and hypertension).

The Board denied service connection for bilateral knee disabilities, hypertension, and a renal disorder including kidney stones. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other factors.

The Veteran's residuals of renal cell carcinoma are granted service connection based on presumed exposure to herbicides. The reduction in rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 40% effective February 1, 2014 is upheld. A separate compensable evaluation for bowel disease associated with prostate cancer is requested.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease was granted an 80% rating from February 29, 2016 onwards. Prior to this date, the condition did not warrant a higher rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cancer of the right kidney is related to his service in Vietnam, specifically Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, degenerative arthritis, gouty arthritis, and others. The claims were not granted on a presumptive basis due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lytic lesions of the cervical spine, left hip, lumbar spine, right shoulder, and skull as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The claims include service connection for current residuals of a claimed left shoulder injury, in-service rib fracture, chest injury, lung disorder, kidney disorder, and prostate disorder.

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected kidney disorder, which is a disability of service origin. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise with respect to whether this service-connected condition contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss due to incomplete VA treatment records and a need for further examination. The issues of service connection for COPD and kidney disability are not within jurisdiction as they have not been perfected by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral pes planus, kidney stones, and pituitary tumors due to Camp Lejeune water contamination. The Veteran is asked to provide any relevant service treatment records or private medical records.

The Board has remanded multiple issues for further development and clarification, including service connection claims for irritable bowel syndrome, bilateral hearing loss disability, degenerative arthritis of the knees, and hypertensive renal disease. The Veteran's claims are pending due to incomplete VA records and lack of a Statement of the Case.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims of service connection for recurrent headaches, frostbite, arthritis, and a neurological disability. The new evidence submitted by the Veteran relates to an unestablished element of these claims and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating them.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate condition and addressing his service connection claims for urinary incontinence, an initial increased rating for chronic epididymitis, and TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board has granted service connection for tinnitus as secondary to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss. The claim of service connection for a left shoulder disability is remanded, while other issues are also remanded.