Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal failure has been denied as new and material evidence was not received. The request to reopen the claim of service connection for a fractured right ankle is also denied.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of evidence linking the Veteran's end stage renal disease and COPD to his military service or his service-connected conditions. The July 2018 VA opinion concluded that PCT did not cause or aggravate the Veteran's end stage renal disease.

The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and kidney stones are being remanded for further evaluation as the low threshold for obtaining an examination has been met.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, heart disability, renal failure, hypoxic respiratory disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea have been denied.,Service connection was not granted as the evidence did not establish exposure to herbicide agents or other chemicals in service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to TCE during active service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for multiple conditions including hypertension, bladder cancer, chronic kidney dysfunction, prostate cancer, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for higher evaluations and earlier effective dates for service-connected disabilities have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for glaucoma, sleep apnea, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, and kidney disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's currently diagnosed chronic kidney disability is secondary to his service-connected diabetes, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU have been remanded due to the need for additional examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his service, including asbestos exposure. Therefore, service connection for any of the claimed conditions is denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a kidney condition. However, further examination is needed to determine if his current kidney condition is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the Veteran's kidney disability is a congenital defect or preexisting condition, and if so, whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, soft tissue sarcoma of the right shoulder, benign skin growths (claimed as a skin ulcer) of the right scapula, kidney cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The Board denied service connection for a right shoulder disability, cervical spine osteoarthritis, left knee degenerative joint disease, and genitourinary disorder (kidney disease). The decision also noted that the claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was denied.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not shown to have developed in service or within the first post-service year, and there is no evidence linking it to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. The Board denied service connection for renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran's tinnitus, renal disease, and hypertension are granted as service-connected. The right ear hearing loss and TDIU claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for chronic fatigue syndrome is denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under 38 C.F.R. § 3.317.,The Veteran's kidney disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected migraine headaches.

The Veteran is entitled to educational assistance benefits at the 100 percent level due to his service-connected disabilities and discharge from active duty.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and kidney disability combined to meet the criteria for a TDIU rating, but further examination is needed to assess his ability to work.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board has determined that the Veteran served near the perimeter of the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, which places him at risk for herbicide exposure. Service connection is granted for prostate cancer on a presumptive basis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rectal cancer and left kidney neoplasms have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or exposure to herbicide agents.