Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lower extremity neurological disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney disability, liver disability, and left foot fungus. The Veteran's exposure during active service is alleged to be from handling nuclear/chemical weapons and contaminated soil/water.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for TMJ disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, and kidney disorder. The appeal was dismissed due to a March 2019 rating decision granting service connection for TMJ disorder.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's cause of death claim, specifically regarding whether asbestos exposure caused kidney disease and if the right leg below the knee amputation contributed to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney disease, edema, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and other conditions.,Service connection was not granted for kidney disease due to insufficient evidence linking it to military service or exposure to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Further examination is needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the case.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a left leg disorder and kidney disorder, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from February 5, 2016 to February 7, 2016 are denied as the treatment was not rendered in an emergency situation and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues of increased evaluations, service connection, and TDIU are all related and require further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to pending claims related to other conditions. The appeal will be deferred until all other issues are resolved.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriatic arthritis and kidney disorder are remanded due to the AOJ failing to notify him of their findings regarding his treatment records from 'Arthritis Associates' in Hixson, Tennessee. The Veteran also has secondary theories of entitlement for these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a kidney disorder is remanded as he used Naproxen extensively to treat his service-connected orthopedic disorders and over time, the Naproxen damaged his kidneys.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the right ear evaluated at level IV and the left ear at level II.,For hypertension associated with residuals of renal cell carcinoma, a separate rating of 10 percent has been granted since October 18, 2012.

The Veteran's pulmonary hypertension and kidney disease are granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor were they severe enough to cause him to be housebound.

The Board found that the amputation of the Veteran's left leg was not caused by VA treatment and did not result from an unforeseeable event. The evidence showed that conservative treatments were effective until a late infection developed, leading to the need for an amputation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, fainting disorder, stomach disorder, vertigo, sleep disorder, skin disorder, and renal cysts.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for a kidney condition (partial nephrectomy) and partial colectomy, but has remanded the case to obtain an opinion on whether these conditions are related to the Veteran's service-connected left knee disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetic renal disease is granted. The claim for service connection for actinic keratosis is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of circumcision, kidney stones, and sleep disorder. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Veteran's gout is service-connected, but his vitamin B12 deficiency and diabetes mellitus type II are not.,Service connection for bilateral upper and lower extremity neuropathy, nocturia, kidney failure, nephrolithiasis, stomach and colon polyps with wedge resection, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and anemia is being remanded due to the need for additional development.