Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the claims for nephrolithiasis, left knee disability, right knee disability, residuals of bladder cancer, and residuals of prostate cancer due to incomplete service treatment records. Further development is needed including obtaining complete Coast Guard service records, scheduling a VA examination to determine if current kidney stones are related to in-service incidences, examining the nature and etiology of any diagnosed knee disabilities, and determining the etiology of the appellant's bladder and prostate cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lacunar brain infarct condition and granted initial ratings of 30 percent for right upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome and 20 percent for left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome prior to March 22, 2011. The claim for cardiovascular disorder (other than arterial hypertension) was remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claims for erectile dysfunction and renal dysfunction were also remanded as the VA examiners did not address whether they are secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's right and left upper extremity carpal tunnel syndrome have been rated based on moderate incomplete paralysis, resulting in a 30 percent rating for each hand prior to March 22, 2011. The Board denied the request for higher ratings.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during a non-VA hospitalization for kidney stones are granted, with the exception of copayments owed to his health insurance plan.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, including as secondary to myelodysplastic syndrome and anemia. The case requires further development to obtain private medical records and provide a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal failure with kidney removal and sleep apnea has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection based on exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune or herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for a kidney disability and granted it, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the condition began during active service. The decision does not address any specific exposure basis or provide a rating assigned.

The Veteran's chronic urinary tract infections, prostatitis, and erectile dysfunction are granted service connection. The kidney infection and kidney scarring claims are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for adrenal adenoma as secondary to his service-connected hypertension and a compensable rating for myokymia. The Board found that there was no evidence showing that the Veteran’s adrenal adenoma or myokymia were caused by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and reopened the claim of service connection for kidney stones. An effective date of April 21, 2017, is assigned for a 30% rating for right shoulder impingement syndrome, which was increased from 20%. The Veteran's right shoulder disability now warrants a 40% rating due to additional limitation during flare-ups.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a kidney disorder and skin disorder has been dismissed.,Service connection is granted for tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

The Board has granted service connection for papillary renal cell carcinoma due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in Vietnam, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions from VA specialists regarding whether the Veteran's kidney stones, hypertension, GERD and hiatal hernia, sinusitis, costochondritis, and DDD are related to VA treatment. The AOJ needs to obtain additional information and addenda from the provided specialists.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including irregular heartbeat, BPH, high cholesterol, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, kidney condition, skin condition, right hand tremors, left hand condition, knee conditions, ankle conditions, shoulder arthritis, and lower bilateral gout are being remanded due to the need for additional development.,The Veteran's service records do not provide clear evidence of his claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Further efforts should be made to confirm this information.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is denied as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability caused by VA treatment, and service connection is also denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for gastric antrum/peptic ulcer disease, cause of death (including pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151), and dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 due to new evidence received since the last final rating decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, and hypertension due to potential secondary relationships with existing conditions or exposure. The Veteran's mental health condition is linked to his coronary artery disease, while his sleep apnea may be related to his psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's claims for a higher rating for his kidney transplant and service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to his kidney condition are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's hearing loss disability and TDIU, as well as his service-connected conditions. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, left hip disability, right knee disability, and left knee disability, are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's clothing allowance for gentamicin sulfate cream is granted due to the medication causing irreparable damage to her outer garments.