Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease and polycythemia vera bone marrow, finding no evidence of in-service onset or relationship to service. The appeal regarding a bilateral foot condition is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, depression, and hypertension are granted. Claims for right leg disability (claimed as a right shin injury), hernia of the upper torso, kidney disease, cyst of the left armpit, and diabetes mellitus remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, heart disability, and kidney disability. The Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease (CKD) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, but the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of evidence showing occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has granted service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The claims for colon adenocarcinoma and kidney cancer, both presumed due to herbicide agent exposure, are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease as secondary to hypertension, and impotency as secondary to hypertension have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for hypertension but denied for chronic kidney disease and impotency.

The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory failure, pneumonia, and renal cell carcinoma. The VA found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has found that more development is necessary prior to final adjudication of the claims on appeal, including for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, kidney disability, and hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for kidney stones prior to July 13, 2009 and in excess of 30 percent thereafter was denied. The issue of service connection for abdominal disorder (including a hernia) is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current kidney disorder is not related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current kidney condition and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and kidney failure, finding that the Veteran did not have a chronic disease in service or within a presumptive period, and that there was no evidence of continuity of symptomatology. The Board also found that there was insufficient medical nexus to establish a link between the current conditions and service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for a kidney disability and a heart attack secondary to kidney surgery, due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of these disabilities. The Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is conceded.

The Veteran's kidney stones are rated at the highest possible level (30%) due to their asymptomatic nature and lack of significant impairment. The Board denied an increased rating as there is no evidence of renal dysfunction or hypertension warranting a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of transitional cell cancer (TCC) of the kidney, finding that there was no evidence linking his exposure to chemicals during service with his development of TCC.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), left shoulder condition, right shoulder condition, right wrist joint pain, left knee chondromalacia of patella, right knee chondromalacia of patella, and left ankle sprain are granted service connection. The Veteran's hypertension is also granted service connection. However, the issues of higher initial ratings for chronic fatigue syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, non-migraine headaches, PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol abuse disorder, TDIU prior to June 3, 2013, and special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria prior to June 3, 2013 are remanded.

The Veteran's MRSA infection and its residuals are not deemed to be due to VA's negligence or carelessness, resulting in denial of compensation under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities, including skin disorders, hearing loss, bladder disorders, heart conditions, kidney diseases, and extremity impairments have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of in-service exposure to toxic substances.