Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's cause of death and his in-service exposure. A VA opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran’s death was related to service, including his bulk fuel exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, a kidney condition, and dizziness and fainting due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disorder and a scar on the tongue as there was insufficient evidence to establish a current disability or link it to service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lung cancer, COPD, and kidney disease due to incomplete medical opinions and need for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder) and kidney disorder (residuals of left nephrectomy and chronic renal disease), finding that these conditions are proximately due to his service-connected coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction and has remanded the issue of service connection for kidney cancer due to exposure to herbicide agents or as secondary to prostate cancer.

The Veteran's dizziness, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, dysthymic disorder, and toothache are all granted service connection. The Veteran's residuals of a right-hand fracture, migraine headaches, and eye irritation are denied.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer and prostate cancer, finding that the conditions did not manifest during service or due to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's prostate cancer was found to have metastasized from his bladder cancer.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions were denied in the past, but new and material evidence has been submitted. The Board is granting these claims as secondary to other service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran is granted earlier effective dates of March 31, 2014 for the grant of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, a 60 percent evaluation for Actinic keratosis, and a 30 percent evaluation for Renal calculi.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions have been denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is in remission, and his current residuals do not meet the criteria for a higher rating as they do not require the use of absorbent materials more than four times per day.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, a heart disorder, a kidney disorder, and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence of in-service disease or injury, and the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and kidney disease as there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptomatology during service or within one year after separation.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability is granted as it was incurred in service.,Service connection for asthma is denied because the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for heart disability, including atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease, is denied due to lack of in-service onset and failure to establish a nexus to service.,Service connection for kidney disability, including hydronephrosis, kidney cysts, kidney calculi, and chronic kidney disease, is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service onset or a nexus to service.,Service connection for basal cell carcinoma is denied because the condition did not manifest during or within one year after service discharge and there is no evidence of a nexus to service.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is denied due to lack of an in-service onset and failure to establish a nexus to service.

The Veteran's cause of death and DIC benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 1318 are being remanded due to incomplete VA treatment records.

The Veteran's death was not due to service-connected conditions, and the cause of death is metabolic acidosis. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of death.,The appellant also seeks burial benefits which are dependent on the outcome of the service connection claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right foot arthritis and mild kidney insufficiency secondary to hypertension, finding no current disability in either case.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea, prostate cancer, acid reflux, and kidney disease. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.