Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal and/or genitourinary disability, to include status post removal of left kidney and ureter. The condition is found to have first manifested during service.

The Board denied the claim for DIC on the basis of service connection for cause of death due to renal cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's service or exposure to herbicides with his condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for an eye injury and lung condition have been dismissed due to withdrawal of the appeals.,New evidence has reopened his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, which are remanded for further examination.

The Board has denied service connection for COPD as the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of COPD and his nonspecific interstitial lung disease is already service-connected.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.,The Board has remanded the claims for an eye disability, recurrent cysts to include scars due to removal of cysts, dermatitis, skin cancer, BPH, GERD, CKD, and back disability as there are factual questions regarding herbicide exposure in Thailand and fuel exhaust, oil, chemicals, or herbicides during active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disability, acquired psychiatric disorder, prostate cancer, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and heart disability is granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is denied.

The Veteran's cause of death, renal cell carcinoma, is found to be related to his active duty service due to exposure to toxic herbicide agents. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension has been granted. Service connection for gout is denied. The claims of service connection for hypertension and renal failure, as well as TDIU due to service-connected disability are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for congestive heart failure and adjustment disorder with depressed mood as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected conditions. The kidney condition issue is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for hypertension, polycystic kidney disease, and kidney removal due to outstanding records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not manifest in service or within one year of separation, and the Board found no evidence linking it to service exposure. The medical opinion concluded that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is more likely due to his extensive smoking history rather than service exposures.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for scoliosis due to new and material evidence. The remaining claims of service connection for ovarian cysts, fibroids (including female sexual arousal disorder), and medullary sponge kidneys are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left kidney condition, tinea corporis (skin condition), chronic fatigue syndrome, and IBS have all been denied. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.,A VA examination was ordered to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed IBS.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, tinnitus, hypertension (to include as due to service-connected major depressive disorder), and kidney disorder are all remanded. The effective date of the award of a 70 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder is also remanded.,Service connection for TDIU is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection of ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been granted. The Board found new and material evidence that could relate to a previously unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.,Service connection for Parkinson’s disease is denied as there is no evidence indicating it was caused or aggravated by service-connected DMII associated with herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and chronic renal disorder due to service connection issues, including whether they are related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD or heart disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals due to the appellant's death, as they do not survive their deaths.

The Veteran's kidney disease is remanded for further evaluation and possible service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and verification of his in-service stressors.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to acute respiratory failure, pneumonia, bowel obstruction, chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. None of these conditions are service-connected or related to his time in service.