Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board found that the Veteran's daughter’s Social Security income was not reasonably available to or for his use, and thus should be excluded from the calculation of his own countable income. As a result, the November 2010 reduction in nonservice-connected pension benefits was not proper.

The appeal for service connection for hypertension has been dismissed. The appeals for service connection for osteoarthritis of the low back, a left hip condition (to include as secondary to service-connected degenerative arthritis of the right hip), bilateral hearing loss, and renal condition are all remanded.

The Board dismissed all service connection claims for various conditions, including exposure to chemicals like TCE, PCBs, and benzene, due to the appellant's death.

The Board has remanded the claims for left finger laceration, gout of elbows, feet and knees, and nephrolithiasis due to a duty to assist error in missing verification of the Veteran's active duty training dates.

The Board denied service connection for bladder cancer, pancreatic cancer, and renal cell carcinoma due to herbicide agent exposure as there is no positive association between such exposures and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to his cause of death, congestive heart failure (CHF), and therefore grants service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney problems, including renal failure and fluid retention due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune, is dismissed because the Veteran has died.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing VA treatment records and a missed VA examination. The Veteran's renal cancer with right nephrectomy is being reviewed for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the claims for service connection for an enlarged left kidney condition and a right non-functioning kidney.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient characterization of the Veteran's claims and a need for further examination. The Veteran is seeking service connection for renal disease, which may be related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury with headaches due to new and material evidence. The claims for liver (hepatocellular) cancer and kidney cancer are remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination.,The Board is reopening the claim of service connection for a heart disorder, but finding that new and material evidence has not been received.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a kidney condition including chronic kidney disease, renal insufficiency, and kidney cysts due to medications prescribed by VA to treat hypertension. The Board also denied compensation for gout. The Veteran's kidney condition was found not to be caused by the medications.

The Veteran's service-connected sleep apnea and kidney condition have been granted, with the Board finding that both conditions began during his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations and inextricably intertwined with his claim for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of evidence. The issues include back disability, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and renal failure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and for Dependent’s Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to ambiguity in the record regarding the nature of the Veteran's cancer diagnosis.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for polycystic left kidney disease and low back disability due to insufficient rationale in the VA examination reports, particularly regarding whether service-connected hypertension caused or aggravated his conditions.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and kidney disorder, finding that the conditions began many years after service and were not caused by any incident of service, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney failure as secondary to service-connected ischemic heart disease (IHD) and hypertension as secondary to now service-connected kidney failure.