Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's renal carcinoma, including a mass on the left kidney, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange. His brain cancer is also granted service connection as secondary to his now service-connected renal carcinoma.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for service connection and increased ratings. The issues include PTSD, jaw disability, right shoulder degenerative joint disease, right knee degenerative joint disease, bilateral hearing loss, peripheral vestibular disorder, kidney stones, and persistent depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for hyperlipidemia, Gulf War Syndrome with unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (including manifestations of headaches, muscle aches, joint aches, and fatigue), and renal calculus are being remanded due to incomplete development. The Veteran will need to provide additional medical evidence or undergo further examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for myofascial pain syndrome, muscle atrophy of the right leg, and muscle cramping of the left leg. The claims for somatic dysfunction of the rib cage and deviated septum have been withdrawn.

The Board denied service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic kidney dysfunction, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting diagnoses of chronic kidney disease and insufficient data to support a current disability. The Veteran needs to provide updated medical records, and a new VA examination is required.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for erectile dysfunction and eczema, dermatitis, and erythema multiforme (claimed as a skin condition), but dismissed the remaining issues due to withdrawal of appeal. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's kidney disease and kidney cysts are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury, event or illness, and the condition did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's right kidney condition was caused by his in-service motor vehicle accident.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable disability rating for his right ankle condition and increased disability ratings for IBS with GERD have been dismissed. The appeal of service connection for a kidney disorder, secondary to the service-connected IBS with GERD, has been remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records, particularly for the claimed conditions of pseudofolliculitis barbae (PFB) and kidney disorder. Additionally, a VA examination is needed to determine if hypertension is related to service.

The Veteran's kidney tumor was not service-connected because there is no evidence of a disability in service and the tumor was benign. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including respiratory issues and cardiovascular conditions, as they were not related to the Veteran's active duty or a service-connected disability.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current respiratory disability other than pleural plaques, which was already service connected. The COPD he claimed was determined to be unrelated to his in-service asbestos exposure and secondary to tobacco use.

This decision is remanded for additional development to obtain updated VA and private treatment records, including from a medical facility in Sedalia, Missouri. The Veteran should also be provided an opportunity to submit lay statements regarding her service-connected conditions and their impact on her ability to work.,The Veteran's kidney stones claim will require a new VA examination to determine if she had any such condition during service or is otherwise related to service. Her sinusitis and right hip disability claims will need a new VA examination, including the May 2012 private treatment record, to assess whether they began in service or are related to service.,The Veteran's GERD claim requires a new VA examination to determine its current severity. The cervical spine disability claim needs a new VA examination to evaluate her radiculopathy of the upper extremities and to assess any associated objective neurologic abnormalities under an appropriate diagnostic code. Her right elbow disabilities will need a new VA examination to determine their current severity.

The Veteran's death was not caused by service, a service-connected disability, or VA medical care. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was rated at 20 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available under VA guidelines.

The Veteran's recurrent UTIs are granted service connection, but her kidney disorder is denied as not related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for adrenal tumor, bilateral great toe ingrown toenails, and mild left first metatarsophalangeal joint degenerative joint disease. The Veteran's current diagnoses are related to her in-service complaints and treatment.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is considered to be related to his service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.