Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nerve damage to the left arm and hand, hypertension, and kidney disability has been remanded due to new evidence received. The claims for these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claim for obstructive sleep apnea was granted. His heart murmur and aortic valve replacement were rated at 60 percent, effective from January 9, 2017. The Veteran's hypertension was denied as compensable, while his kidney disease with hypertension was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to environmental hazards during his active service. The claims will be reconsidered after additional development is conducted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding several disabilities including left knee disability, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disability, chronic pain and face tremors, right middle finger disability, and nerve damage due to tooth removal.

The Veteran's heart disease and hypertension are not service-connected.,The Veteran's blood clots of the left leg, erectile dysfunction, right knee disorder, upper back disorder, foot disorder, sleep apnea, and abdominal aortic aneurysm are not service-connected.

The Veteran's right knee degenerative changes of the patellofemoral compartment are found to be service-connected. The Board also remanded several other issues for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His claims for kidney disease and hypertension were not addressed due to lack of evidence.

The Board has remanded the DIC and accrued benefits claims due to procedural issues, including a need for a statement of the case on the DIC claim.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and VA medical care did not contribute to his cause of death. The Board denied DIC benefits under 1318, 1151, and for the cause of death.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is at least as likely as not related to his in-service herbicide exposure, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's application to reopen a claim of service connection for cardiac disability was granted. The claim of service connection for kidney cancer is remanded.,Service connection for cardiac disability has been granted, while the issue of service connection for kidney cancer remains pending and will be further reviewed.

The Board has granted service connection for hepatitis C and residuals of a kidney transplant, finding that the conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for low back strain was granted. The issue of a rating for kidney stones is being remanded, and the TDIU claim remains granted.

The Veteran's cause of death, end-stage renal disease and diabetes, is denied as not related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for coronary artery disease is denied. The effective date for the grant of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied and set at July 17, 2014.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a medical opinion from an oncologist regarding the cause of death and exposure to asbestos.

The Board has determined that additional VA treatment records must be obtained and that the Veteran needs to undergo examinations for his claimed conditions due to potential service connection based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has found additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for granulomatous liver disease and renal cysts as secondary to his service-connected Crohn’s disease. The case will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus is found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeals for increased ratings of scars, abdominal wall and left hand, as well as the claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, Hepatitis C, and left shoulder condition are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his service-connected diabetes and grants service connection for this condition.