Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's service-connected schizophrenia does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance. The Board found that his nonservice-connected conditions (MS, ESRD) require care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from the hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted, but the claim for service connection for kidney disease was denied.,Hypertension is found to be secondary to the Veteran’s service-connected major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's hypertension has not been rated higher than noncompensable, and the Board finds that a TDIU prior to October 31, 2017 is warranted based on his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that it is not related to the Veteran's service-connected alcohol use disorder or otherwise related to her service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is aggravated by his service-connected chronic kidney disease, and thus grants service connection for hypertension as secondary to his service-connected chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's renal insufficiency is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess its severity and impact on his daily activities.

The Veteran's kidney disability is denied as not shown to be related to service or exposure at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for the other specified trauma stressor related disorder (claimed as depression) is granted.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and hypothyroidism, claimed as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, is remanded for further development.,The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability remains denied.

The Veteran's service-connected renal insufficiency, hypertension, and heart disease have worsened to the point where he is unable to work. The Board orders additional records be obtained and requests that an attempt be made to secure SSA records.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and kidney stones, but has remanded all other issues due to outstanding records. The cervical spine disorder claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to obtain or maintain a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU benefits.

The Veteran's renal disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The claim for sleep apnea is denied due to lack of diagnosis during active duty and no subsequent medical records showing the condition until decades after separation. Service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus is granted as secondary to hypertension, but hearing loss and PTSD claims are not reopened.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for meningitis, renal failure as secondary to meningitis, headaches as secondary to meningitis, PTSD as secondary to meningitis, depressive disorder as secondary to meningitis, and anxiety disorder as secondary to meningitis. The Board found that the appellant does not have any of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension, which was caused by his service exposure to Agent Orange, led to chronic kidney disease and end stage renal failure. These conditions substantially contributed to the Veteran's death from septic shock and pneumonia.

The Board has denied service connection for dry mouth and loss of tooth number 25, finding that the preponderance of evidence is against a finding that these conditions began during active duty or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for kidney cancer (now identified as plasmacytoma) was also denied due to inadequate medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected AL amyloidosis and presumed exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is remanded for a VA examination to determine its etiology. The Veteran's CAD, post myocardial infarction, is also remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities and bilateral inguinal hernias. The case is remanded for further action on his claims for peripheral artery disease (PAD) and chronic kidney disease.,Service connection was not granted for bilateral shoulder disabilities or bilateral inguinal hernias due to lack of evidence showing a current disability related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for onychomycosis or residuals thereof, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, renal insufficiency, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities all as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection of ventricular arrhythmias, nephrolithiasis, benign renal cysts, and hypertension. The claims for increased disability ratings are remanded due to failure to appear for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the cases due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues, specifically the service connection for gastritis. The VA must obtain all relevant records and readjudicate the claims.

The appeal for earlier effective date for grant of service connection for tinnitus is dismissed.,New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a back disorder, but not for kidney disorder. The claims are denied.