Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and end-stage renal disease are not related to service, and thus denied these claims. The claim for hemorrhoids is pending as it relates to a different issue.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the death of the Appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service. The claims will be readjudicated after all development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to verify the Veteran's exposure to chemicals during service and to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his kidney cancer is related to these exposures.

The Veteran's kidney cysts are being remanded for a new VA examination to determine their etiology, as the previous opinion did not consider Agent Orange exposure. The examiner must also provide a rationale for why there were no records supporting a nexus.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and kidney disease associated with diabetes mellitus, type II as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or environmental hazards that could lead to these conditions.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is found to be etiologically related to his exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam, and the claim for service connection is granted.

Service connection for sleep apnea and a kidney disability, including kidney stones and cysts, is denied.,A temporary total rating for treatment of a service-connected disability requiring convalescence is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney condition is being remanded due to the need for a clarifying medical opinion regarding the etiology of his pre-existing kidney condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical examinations and to ensure that all pertinent evidence has been considered. The issues of increased ratings for left knee disability, TBI, hypertension, renal disability, and entitlement to TDIU are inextricably intertwined and must be addressed together.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is not associated with his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) is found to be due to his military service. The RO granted a rating of 60 percent for IHD effective July 27, 2011.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn, and her claims for a left shoulder strain, low back disability, upper face numbness, diabetes, and bulimia are denied as there is no evidence of in-service injury or disease resulting in current disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current kidney disability is not related to his active service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ESRD, finding that there was no direct evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in service, and thus could not grant service connection for the Veteran's intestinal, liver, kidney, and blood disorder. The claim for loss of teeth at the gum level was denied as it is not related to a service-connected disability. The bilateral leg disability claim was also denied due to lack of evidence.

The Board finds that the Veteran's long history of taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to treat his service-connected disabilities did not cause or aggravate his non-service-connected hypertension and chronic kidney disease, nor was it a primary cause of death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining private medical records.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the claim of service connection for kidney cancer, including as due to herbicide agent exposure. The Veteran's STRs showed normal abdomen examinations throughout his active service and there was no diagnosis or treatment for kidney cancer during or after service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a wart on the right arm, leptospirosis, obstructive sleep apnea, and acute renal failure have all been denied as they are not considered to be related to Gulf War illness or an undiagnosed illness.