Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 17, 2012 for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the first communication from the Veteran to VA evidencing intent to file a claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus was received on May 17, 2012.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The cases of hypertension, erectile dysfunction, renal dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy are remanded due to the need for further medical examination.

The Veteran's kidney disability claim is denied as he does not have a current diagnosis.,The criteria for an earlier effective date than August 12, 2015, for the PTSD evaluation are not met due to lack of evidence of increased severity within one year prior.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to lung disability, left kidney disability, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as new and material evidence has not been received. The reductions in the rating for hypertension from 20% to 10% were effective March 4, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an earlier effective date for kidney cancer were denied. Service connection for prostate cancer was not granted due to lack of in-service disease or injury, and the claimant did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran's kidney cancer was added to the list of diseases associated with Camp Lejeune as of March 14, 2017, but his effective date request is denied.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's renal cancer and associated surgical scar, finding that there was no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The Board concluded that the Veteran's kidney cancer is not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for clear cell renal carcinoma and peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, both related to herbicide agent exposure. Service connection was dismissed for esophagus erosion, anemia, and tooth erosion.

The Board has denied service connection for respiratory, bowel, hernia, and kidney disorders as there is no evidence of a current disability related to active duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected arthritis and gout, finding no evidence that he intended to file a claim prior to August 12, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records, and the Appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death remains pending.

The Board has dismissed all issues of service connection as the Veteran died before a decision was made.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disability and diverticulitis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service injuries or his service-connected disabilities. Service connection for hypertension was remanded due to insufficient rationale provided by the VA examiner.,Service connection is not granted for the Veteran’s kidney disability, diverticulitis, or hypertension as secondary to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, GIST, and pheochromocytoma status post left adrenalectomy due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to restore a 100% rating for his renal disability, finding that reduction from 100% to 30% effective March 1, 2011 was proper based on improvement in his condition.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of service connection for hypertension was granted. The appeal is granted in this regard, but other claims remain pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's renal cell carcinoma and left partial nephrectomy are related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus and remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and provide VA examinations. The claims for kidney failure as secondary to diabetes are also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and chronic kidney stones, finding no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and service. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure. The claim for accrued benefits for service connection for kidney cancer, including as a result of herbicide exposure, is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and kidney condition secondary to diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is granted. The Veteran has been diagnosed with PTSD, and the kidney condition is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service-connected DM.