Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and renal insufficiency, finding that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and concluding that the renal insufficiency is not related to herbicide exposure or service-connected diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's amyloidosis, CKD, and RUE peripheral neuropathy were not shown during the appeal period. The claims for these conditions are denied as there is no current disability due to disease or injury.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension. The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is denied as there is no evidence of a diagnosis in service or within one year after discharge, nor any link between the condition and active duty service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death based on new evidence provided by the Appellant. The case is remanded to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the nature of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination. The issues include lung disorder, left eye glaucoma, right kidney cancer, and intestinal cancer.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and coronary artery disease (CAD) are found to be related to in-service herbicide exposure. The claims for service connection for these conditions are granted.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is at least as likely as not related to his service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by Parkinsonism, which is considered a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's kidney disability was not incurred in service or due to a service-connected condition. The Board found no evidence of over-prescription of NSAIDs by VA resulting in the Veteran's current kidney disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus, recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), pyelonephritis, and medullary sponge kidney are service-connected. The conditions were found to be related to her active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder was denied in April 1987 and August 1990. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for reopening his previously denied claim, making July 25, 2007 the earliest date of receipt of a new claim. As such, an effective date earlier than July 25, 2007 is not warranted.

The Board finds that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is related to his exposure to ionizing radiation and/or harmful chemicals in service, warranting direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As such, he is denied service connection for all of his claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain verification of his claimed exposure to herbicides during service in Puerto Rico, and to attempt to obtain inpatient treatment records from the USAF Hospital at Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico for the years 1962 and 1963. Additionally, a VA examination will be scheduled to determine the etiology of his claimed bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran seeks service connection for peripheral neuropathy in his left lower extremity, but the evidence does not show a current diagnosis of this condition.,Service connection is granted for renal cell chromophobe carcinoma with metastasis to the retroperitoneal lymph node (para-aortic mass), as secondary to the Veteran's previously diagnosed renal cell chromophobe carcinoma.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration of service connection for renal cell carcinoma, including as due to herbicide exposure, asbestos exposure, or service-connected Hodgkin's disease.

The Veteran withdrew all his pending claims, including those related to skin condition (chloracne), kidney condition, neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and heart condition (ischemic heart disease).

The Veteran's colon and renal cancers are found to be related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection is granted for these conditions.,Right foot drop with peripheral neuropathy is determined to be secondary to the service-connected colon cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for a new examination and consideration of additional medical evidence to determine if there is a relationship between the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and his service, including herbicide exposure.