Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis and end stage renal disease are being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The appeals seeking service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer and DIC based on the cause of death, finding that the Veteran's exposure to chemicals and asbestos during active duty may have contributed to his kidney cancer. The decision is in favor of the claimant.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues related to various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, erectile dysfunction, renal failure, peripheral neuropathy, and amputation scars. The AOJ is directed to obtain updated treatment records and the December 2013 Statement of the Case for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for renal failure and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to incomplete development. The Veteran's kidney disease must be evaluated for aggravation during service or due to herbicide exposure, and a new medical opinion is required.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for testicular cancer, fatigue, diarrhea, and kidney stones must be denied due to lack of current disability. The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded. His claims for service connection for PTSD, depression, and chronic cough are also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, kidney dysfunction, and obstructive sleep apnea due to incomplete development and need for medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and chronic kidney disease (stage 2) as secondary to his service-connected liver transplant residuals and immunosuppressant medications due to a lack of medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus was denied as there is no evidence of current disability or in-service injury.,Service connection for renal cell carcinoma was also denied due to lack of a link between the condition and active service, including presumed exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding a link between the appellant's kidney cancer and his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service. The appellant must be afforded a VA examination to determine if there is a medical link.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostatomegaly, renal stones with hydronephrosis and possible ICM distal right ureterovesical junction stones, and urinary retention due to lack of a VA examination and unclear evidence regarding prostate cancer. The AOJ is instructed to contact the Veteran and request any outstanding records, and then schedule him for a VA examination to determine if his conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining clarification of the Veteran's SSA compensation award and scheduling an updated VA diabetes examination to assess his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and end-stage renal dysfunction due to inadequate medical opinions. The actinic keratosis with sebaceous cysts claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations of his service-connected disabilities, as well as for further consideration of his claims related to hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, hypertension, and kidney stones were denied. The claim for initial disability rating for coronary artery disease prior to September 5, 2018 was granted with a staged rating from that date forward.,The Veteran's claims for initial disability ratings in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II prior to September 5, 2018 were denied. The reduction of the initial disability rating for diabetes mellitus, type II from 20 percent to 10 percent effective September 5, 2018 was upheld.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to May 28, 2014 for service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, type II were denied.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and kidney disease are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded due to lack of a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, oropharyngeal cancer, and renal failure due to chemotherapy.,Service connection is being denied for COPD as it is not related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for pulmonary hypertension and acute respiratory failure, chronic renal insufficiency, scar residuals secondary to service-connected conditions, and depression. Additional development is needed as per previous remand directives.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent for chronic pyelonephritis (kidney infections) is denied because the evidence does not show recurrent, symptomatic infections requiring drainage or more than two hospitalizations per year. There is also no evidence of renal dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hearing loss, tinnitus, lumbar spine disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, kidney disorder, and rheumatoid arthritis. The issues of entitlement to a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss are inextricably intertwined with the above issues.