Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's metastatic renal cancer involving major veins, renal vein and vena cava below diaphragm is found to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Service connection is granted for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and chronic kidney condition as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for kidney pain due to its inextricability with the bladder discomfort claim. The bladder discomfort claim is still pending and requires further development before it can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for diabetes mellitus, liver disorder, and a compensable rating for the service-connected acute rheumatic fever with migratory polyarthritis have been dismissed. The claims for service connection for low back pain and chronic kidney condition manifested by hematuria in service were granted as new and material evidence was received. Service connection has been established for right knee disability, left knee disability, lumbar spine disability, and the Veteran is presumed to have a kidney condition due to Camp Lejeune exposure. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm (claimed as blood cancer), kidney issue, and strokes due to his death during the appeal process.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an independent medical opinion from a nephrology specialist regarding whether the Veteran's kidney disability was caused or aggravated by VA treatment at the Miami VAMC. The remand also requires obtaining relevant VA treatment records.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for prostate cancer residuals, renal cell carcinoma, and hypertension. The claim for an initial compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current right leg Achilles disability and whether it is related to his service-connected disabilities. The compensation claim under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic kidney disease will also be remanded with instructions to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the potential causation of the condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings, as well as his request for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability. The issues were not related to service connection.

The Veteran's kidney disability and peripheral neuropathy were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found the evidence against a nexus to service.

The Veteran's kidney failure is not rated as compensable, and the effective date for service connection remains January 13, 2014.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for his service-connected kidney failure was denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicide agents during service, no in-service or continuous post-service symptoms related to lung cancer or chronic kidney disease, and that the Veteran was not rated as totally disabled at any time.

The Board denied service connection for kidney stones and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of a nexus to service. The issue of service connection for a joint disorder as the result of dengue fever is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for kidney stones or diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lung disorder, colon cancer residuals, and kidney cancer residuals due to various exposures during service. The Veteran is not currently diagnosed with a lung disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as not related to service.,The Veteran's kidney disorder and heart disorder are remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease, right shoulder arthritis, and cervical spine arthritis as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities. The Veteran is also awarded special monthly compensation on account of need for regular aid and attendance.

Service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and kidney disease has been granted.,The Veteran's low back pain claim was denied, but service connection is now granted due to reopening on new evidence.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service connection for residuals of kidney cancer, sleep apnea, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for chloracne is granted with a 30 percent rating prior to October 16, 2012.