Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential herbicide exposure at CFB Gagetown. Additional development is needed to verify if the appellant was exposed to herbicides, not limited to Agent Orange.

The Board denied service connection for gout, chronic pain, left shoulder impingement syndrome and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, low back disability, neck disability, respiratory condition (shortness of breath), and chronic kidney disease. The evidence did not show a relationship between these conditions and service.,The Board found that the Veteran's gout had no onset in service or was not related to service. For other conditions, there was insufficient evidence to establish their onset during service or relate them to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the evaluation of disability and indemnity compensation for cause of death. However, a remand is required due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver cancer, kidney disease, and hypertension have been denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of liver cancer and insufficient evidence linking the conditions to active duty service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, bilateral hearing loss, ischemic heart condition, bilateral lung condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II), and bilateral kidney condition (secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II).

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder, increased ratings for DM, chronic kidney disease, and CAD were denied. The appeals are based on the Veteran's subjective complaints of increased symptoms but the medical evidence does not support these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is not related to his presumed herbicide agent exposure during service, and thus cannot be granted service connection. The claim for death pension benefits and accrued benefits are also remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, particularly those related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to his service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence indicating these conditions should be service connected.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, psychiatric condition, and kidney condition as the evidence does not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for various conditions, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease. The cause of death is also under consideration.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy due to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II (DMII) have been granted.,Service connection for renal disease due to DMII has been denied.

The Veteran's petition to reopen claims for residuals of left wrist fracture, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, and lung disorder have been granted. The petitions to reopen the remaining issues are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis of the spine, hypertension, and TDIU have been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims due to the lack of complete service treatment records, including a separation examination. Additionally, SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected right wrist disability contributed to his death from pneumonia, acute renal failure and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The benefit of doubt is applied in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's cause of death was renal cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board cannot conclude there is no reasonable possibility that the cause of death could be related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents while serving in Vietnam. Further development is required.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension and renal failure has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's severe degenerative disease of the spine and kidney stones are granted service connection.,The Veteran's kidney stones are granted service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for testicular cancer and renal cysts was reopened due to new evidence. However, the claims were denied as there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his service or exposure at Camp Lejeune.