Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including hypertension with kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, and lumbar spine arthritis, render him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the combined effect of these disabilities is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's increased rating claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, left knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral pes cavus with bilateral heel spurs, left foot hallux valgus, right foot hallux valgus, posterior thigh muscle (muscle group XIII), hypertension, inguinal hernia, kidney stones, and generalized anxiety disorder. The claims will be reconsidered in light of the additional evidence received since the April and May 2016 Supplemental Statements of the Case.

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney disability, lung condition, and heart condition due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being remanded for additional development.

The Board denied service connection for back, undescended testicles, and kidney disabilities due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents. The kidney condition is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to or aggravated by the diabetes.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease, heart disease, and a skin disorder are not diseases that are acknowledged to be presumptively related to exposure to herbicide agents. The appellant is denied service connection for these conditions due to lack of prior claim.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for recurrent urethral calculus is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess current severity and manifestations of his condition, including renal dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney disorder and diabetes mellitus, type II have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence regarding his exposure during active duty.

The appeals to reopen the service connection claims for atrophy of the left kidney, arteriosclerosis of the lower extremities, and coronary artery disease have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's hemorrhoids and body aches of the entire body are found to have begun during service, while kidney stones with lithotripsy, OSA with insomnia, right leg numbness and tingling, and cardiovascular disorder manifested by heart palpitations are not related to service.,Further examination is needed for the claims regarding body aches of the entire body, OSA with insomnia, right leg numbness and tingling, and cardiovascular disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to difficulties in scheduling VA examinations because of his incarceration. The issues include arthritis, hearing loss, COPD, hypertension, renal failure, lymphocytic lymphoma, and thrombocytopenia.

The Veteran's kidney cancer with hypertension was granted service connection effective July 9, 2010. The Board found that an earlier effective date of July 8, 2010 is warranted as the claim was received on that day.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for eosinophilic myalgia syndrome from 100% to 40% was proper, and denied all other claims. The termination of SMC for aid and attendance was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney stones, and initial compensable evaluations for chronic hand tendonitis and residual scars of the right ring and little fingers were dismissed. The appeals for increased evaluations for various shoulder disabilities, hip conditions, foot issues, urinary stress incontinence, and acne rosacea are all pending.

The Board denied service connection for kidney problems, finding no current diagnosis and insufficient evidence to link the condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's stomach disability/constipation and bladder disability (kidney stones with microhematuria) are granted as service-connected. The right arm/hand disability is remanded for further examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for back pain and muscle spasms, nasal polyps, stomach polyps, liver cyst, multiple kidney cysts, knot on back, cysts on penis, and cysts, polyps of the abdomen and pelvis due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The TDIU claim is also remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability was denied in December 1999 and again on September 5, 2001. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at September 5, 2001.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of various disabilities, including cardiac disability, shoulder and ankle disabilities, hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, peripheral neuropathy, and psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD).

Your appeals for increased ratings and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been dismissed as you withdrew your appeal.