Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has decided that the Veteran's kidney cancer residuals are related to service-connected prostate cancer and remanded for further clarification on whether they are also related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and aortic valve replacement, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. However, the case is remanded for an additional VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his aortic valve disability.

The Veteran's left kidney cancer status post nephrectomy is granted as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for depression is granted. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for depression and kidney dysfunction due to lack of a medical opinion on their etiology.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but has remanded the issues of service connection for lumbar spine degenerative changes with diffuse disc bulge, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be associated with his service at Camp Lejeune, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not considered the principal or a contributory cause of his death. Therefore, his DIC claim based on the cause of death is denied.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of narcolepsy and remanded several other issues including sleep apnea, hypertension, hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, erectile dysfunction, enlarged prostate gland, thyroid dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus has been withdrawn.,His claims for hypertension, recurrent lipomas, and elevated blood sugar have been reopened due to new evidence. His claim for service connection for hypertension is granted, as it is presumed related to his Vietnam service exposure.,His claim for service connection for recurrent lipomas is also granted, based on the presumption of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The Veteran's kidney cancer has been granted service connection, presumptively due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune during his military service.,The Veteran's lumbar spine disorder remains under review as a remand for an addendum VA examination is required.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, eye problems to include retinology, right knee condition, left knee condition, vertigo secondary to bilateral hearing loss, and kidney failure with advanced kidney loss. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of current peripheral neuropathy or kidney disorder, and diabetes was rated at 20%.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected right kidney hydronephrosis, with left kidney involvement was dismissed as he withdrew the claim in March 2019.

The Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected and he was not rated totally disabled by VA at any time.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, urethral stricture, and kidney stones. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable rating schedule.

The Veteran's tinnitus is denied as there is no probative nexus linking his current complaints to military noise exposure.,Service connection for a bladder disability due to Agent Orange exposure is not granted as there is no evidence of such disability during service or within one year after separation.,Sleep apnea, claimed as secondary to service-connected lung cancer, is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology.,Heart disease (hypertension) is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to the Veteran's service-connected lung cancer.,Service connection for hypertension is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Diverticulitis, gallbladder calculus, kidney calculus, and skin disability are remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding their etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Gallbladder calculus is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Kidney calculus is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.,Skin disability is remanded for further evaluation and opinion regarding its etiology with respect to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, type II, and cataracts are granted. The claim for service connection of renal insufficiency is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer due to herbicide exposure during his active service, finding no evidence of a link between the condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and lung disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.,Service connection is only granted if there is medical evidence linking the current condition to an injury or disease incurred during active duty. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange (AO) herbicides, but the Board found no direct link between any claimed conditions and service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and chronic kidney disease have been granted service connection. A TDIU rating has also been granted. The Veteran's claim for a higher PTSD rating is remanded.