Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus type II are presumed to be service-connected due to herbicide-agent exposure during active duty.,The Veteran's hypertension, gallbladder residuals, neuropathy of the lower extremities, and kidney disability are remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including Parkinson’s disease and right lower extremity bradykinesia, loss of automatic movements, and muscle rigidity, result in the need for assistive devices such as a walker to prevent locomotion without them. The Board finds eligibility for specially adapted housing due to these service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and his laceration of the right eyebrow does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating. The Veteran’s kidney condition requires additional records to be obtained before a determination can be made.

The Veteran's polycystic kidney disease was not incurred or aggravated by his active service, and the Board denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new information regarding the relationship between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for kidney cancer was granted. Service connection is also granted for the disability and its residuals. The issue of service connection for back disability, which may be related to the service-connected kidney cancer, has been remanded.

The Veteran's claims for tinea cruris, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor and onychomycosis were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to service. The claim for MDD was granted due to its relationship with service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction.,The claims for tension headaches, GERD, and OSA were all granted as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's renal dysfunction is denied as not incurred in service.,An initial rating of 50% for the service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood (previously called bipolar disorder I mixed with depression) is granted effective April 26, 2018. The claim is remanded to determine if a higher rating is warranted.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus type II and its secondary conditions. The case is being returned to the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, status post left nephrectomy, is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during active duty. His hypothyroidism is also granted as secondary to his service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability evaluation and TDIU are remanded due to the need for new VA examinations to assess current severity of his service-connected conditions, as well as additional records from recent treatment providers.

The Board has granted service connection for left kidney cancer due to exposure to herbicides, but denied service connection for rectal cancer.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II and heart conditions, due to a lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the preponderance of the evidence did not support his assertions of herbicide exposure or causation.

The Board has remanded the case due to concerns about potential fault on the part of VA medical staff in causing the Veteran's end-stage kidney disease. A new opinion is needed to determine if carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault caused this disability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder and service connection for a kidney disability due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claims for secondary service connection for kidney disease and peripheral neuropathy in the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities and erectile dysfunction, both secondary to service-connected diabetes. The renal condition is remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for additional development due to inadequate examination findings and incomplete medical opinions.

The Veteran's chronic renal disease was granted an increased rating to 80 percent, but no higher. The condition is characterized by constant albuminuria and generalized poor health.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for irregular heartbeat, hypertension, acid reflux, and kidney disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected disability.