Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is granted. The effective date for the grant of service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is December 4, 2008. Service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection for sleep apnea, a kidney condition, a breathing condition, a heart disability, hypertension and seizures as he withdrew his appeals prior to the promulgation of a decision.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 or non-service-connected death pension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for obstructive sleep apnea and renal cell carcinoma due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his conditions, as well as their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of discoid lupus erythematosus was granted, but the remaining issues on appeal are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's kidney disorder is found to be secondary to his service-connected hypertension, but not related to his active service or other service-connected conditions. The knee disorders are denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's hypertension is related to his active duty service, including conceded in-service exposure to herbicides. The matter will be reconsidered after these opinions are obtained.

The Board denied service connection for Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) of the right leg, PAD of the left leg, renal failure, and osteomyelitis of the left foot due to lack of a causal relationship with a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeals regarding hypertension, kidney removal, and his depressive disorder were dismissed. The effective date for the grant of service connection for depressive disorder was not granted earlier than May 2, 2007.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for a kidney disorder, to include TDIU.

The Board denied service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that the evidence does not support a relationship between the Veteran's condition and his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of November 22, 2013, for his TDIU award due to a lack of evidence showing intent to seek TDIU benefits prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and transfer considerations. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining additional information.

The Board has granted TDIU effective January 12, 2009. The claim for service connection for hypertension is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, renal cancer, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction due to in-service herbicide exposure. The reasons include new findings by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine regarding a possible association between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death due to dementia, renal cell carcinoma, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, and pneumonia. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking the cause of death to his military service.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded for further investigation into the etiology of his coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease. The Board will seek additional information regarding potential exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and kidney disability (including cancer) as the evidence did not show a link to service or another condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to missing treatment records. The claims will be reconsidered with consideration of whether his conditions are related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.