Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the claims due to incomplete records and requests for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases of kidney disability and migraine headaches for further development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and likely cause of these conditions.

The Board has denied service connection for retinal disease, hypertension, kidney disease, skin cancer, Parkinson's, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as these conditions are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's kidney cancer, finding that it is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The claim was reopened due to new evidence provided by a private medical opinion.

The Veteran's heart and kidney conditions were not covered under the Nehmer class, so retroactive benefits for these conditions prior to January 7, 1987 are denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus. The issues of service connection for a kidney/bladder disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and an acquired psychiatric disorder remain remanded due to the need for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for various conditions, including lung disorder, cardiac disorder, kidney disorder, compromised immune system, residuals of hernia surgery, bowel obstruction with incontinence, and decreased range of motion of multiple joints, due to alleged inadequate treatment by VA. The Board also remanded the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal disorder, skin disorder, and lumbar spine disorder.

The Veteran's metastatic renal cell carcinoma and bladder cancer were denied service connection as they did not manifest during or within one year after service, and there was no evidence linking them to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including DM with diabetic retinopathy and ED, CAD, CVA, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, hypertension, and renal dysfunction. The decision found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea and that the disorders were not shown in service or within one year of separation.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for pancreatic disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and hypertension due to in-service events. The Veteran's statements and medical records will be reviewed to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's treatment at SFBH on December 23, 2015 was for a medical emergency where delay in seeking immediate care would have been hazardous to his health. The VA or federal facility was not feasibly available due to the Veteran's wife's inability to drive him to the closest VA hospital.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer. The cancers are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, end stage renal disease requiring dialysis, and diabetes mellitus due to incomplete examinations and potential new evidence.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's lung cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, are granted service connection for purposes of accrued benefits.,The Veteran's cause of death due to adenocarcinoma of the lung is also granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney stones and Graves' disease, both including as due to her service-connected splenectomy residuals and idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sarcoidosis, ulcerative colitis, a kidney condition, and a thyroid condition. The reasons provided include lack of medical nexus between the conditions and service, as well as failure to meet presumptive service connection criteria.

The Board denied service connection for mitral valve prolapse and endometriosis, but granted service connection for residuals of fibroid tumors, including small bowel resection, sigmoid colectomy, and colostomy stoma; as well as residuals of a left kidney condition (left nephrectomy) and total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy.,The Board also remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for sleep apnea and remanded the other claims due to insufficient evidence on their merits.