Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his benign renal cyst of the right kidney is granted with a 60% rating effective October 27, 2015. The Veteran also receives SMC at the housebound rate from that date.

The Veteran's complications from his August 2013 surgery did not result in additional disabilities, and the VA treatment was not found to be causally related.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to diabetes and renal insufficiency, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer as the Veteran's condition was not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board vacated the February 12, 2019 decision denying service connection for cause of death due to lack of consideration of new evidence. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any condition caused by or related to service contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating in addition to the 100 percent schedular rating under 38 C.F.R. §§ 4.115a, 4.115b, Diagnostic Code 7500 for his service-connected kidney disability is denied. The appeal regarding special monthly compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(k) is dismissed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ischemic heart disease, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus, type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hearing loss, kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and peripheral neuropathy, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for kidney stones, finding that the Veteran's nephrolithiasis was not manifested in service or for many years thereafter and there is no probative evidence it may be etiologically related to his service-connected disabilities (including diabetes).

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is caused by his service-connected prostate cancer, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition as secondary to his prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted as a result of exposure to toxic herbicide agents. The cause of death, end stage renal disease caused by hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is also presumed related to his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney condition is granted as service connected due to exposure to burn pits in Iraq, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection have been withdrawn. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for DJD of the left knee, status post arthroscopic surgery; DJD of the right knee; bilateral hearing loss; tinnitus; and OSA.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney cancer and its connection to herbicide exposure, as well as the aggravation of his reduced kidney function by service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on three issues have been dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's service connection claims for pseudofolliculitis barbae and right kidney removal are granted. The Veteran's pseudofolliculitis barbae is found to have its onset in service, while the cause of his right kidney removal requires further examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's kidney conditions are secondary or aggravated by his service-connected prostate cancer residuals and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for renal cancer due to Agent Orange exposure, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and the right kidney disorder residuals are remanded for further examination.

The Veteran's service-connected right knee disability caused him to use NSAIDs, which led to chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The Board found that the Veteran's use of NSAIDs was at least as likely as not a cause of his chronic kidney disease, which in turn caused his hypertension.