Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete information and records. The Veteran is required to provide copies of his Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits records.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to toxic chemicals during active service is related to his development of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and adrenal adenoma as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected condition. However, several issues related to hypertension, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and incontinence remain unresolved due to lack of medical evidence or need for further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and that any potential link to military service or herbicide exposure was not supported by the record.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus type II, posttraumatic stress disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and a kidney disorder secondary to diabetes mellitus type II have all been denied due to lack of credible evidence supporting the in-service occurrence or connection.,Service connection was not granted as there is no credible evidence that the Veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam, which would be required for presumptive service connection under the Agent Orange Act. The Veteran's claims were also denied because there is insufficient medical evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Veteran's kidney tumors/cysts and PTSD have been granted service connection. The kidney tumors/cysts are presumed due to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, while the PTSD is linked to combat stressors during service.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, left lung nodules, carcinoma of the lymph nodes, and metastatic tumors of the left lower extremity are all found to be related to his service-connected renal cell carcinoma due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including myasthenia gravis, whole-body neuropathy, left hip arthritis, right hip arthritis, and accumulating kidney stones, as they are not related to his active military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for kidney cancer and cervical dystonia due to herbicide exposure, as there is insufficient information to verify his claimed exposure. The case will be sent back for further development including obtaining updated medical records and a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for right knee injury residuals, asthma, acquired psychiatric disability (to include depression and posttraumatic stress disorder), epidermis removal, kidney stones, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks, cardiovascular disease, and a right lung disability.,There is no evidence of any chronic right knee disability during active duty or within one year after separation. The appellant's current right knee disability was not related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board found that asthma did not manifest during active duty service and there is no indication it is related to an in-service disease or injury.,There is no evidence of a psychiatric disability during active duty service, nor within one year after separation. The appellant's current acquired psychiatric disability was not linked to his military service.,Epidermis removal was not noted in service records and there is no indication it is related to the appellant’s active service.,Hypertension did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, nor is there any evidence linking it to an in-service disease or injury.,Transient ischemic attacks were not present during active duty or within one year after separation. There is no indication that post-service transient ischemic attack or its residuals are causally related to active service.,Cardiovascular disease did not manifest during active duty or within one year of discharge, nor is there any evidence linking it to an in-service disease or injury.,A right lung disability was not present during active duty or within one year after separation. There is no indication that the current right lung disability is causally related to active service.

The Veteran's cause of death is not service-connected, and the appellant does not qualify for accrued benefits or increased death pension due to aid and attendance.

The Veteran's initial rating for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) prior to August 5, 2015, is granted at a 10 percent level. From August 5, 2015, the higher rating of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including chronic headache disorder and fatigue disorder, were denied as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.,Service connection was also denied for kidney disorder, heart disorder, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), blood disorder, and left lower extremity neuropathy due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a cardiovascular disorder and microscopic hematuria with chronic kidney disease are being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including liver disorder, radiculopathy in multiple extremities, and renal cysts. The remand is due to missing VA medical records and the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected DMII aggravated his renal cysts.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed by a VA examiner to determine if his cancer is related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and missing VA records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions and review all available records.

The Veteran's bilateral sensorineural hearing loss is rated at 20 percent from February 18, 2016. The claim for increased rating was denied.,Service connection for renal cell carcinoma due to herbicide exposure in service has been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the cause of death and its relation to service-connected conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's kidney cancer is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand.