Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's kidney disorder as secondary to his service-connected lung cancer.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was granted service connection effective August 18, 2017. The Board also found that the Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hepatitis C and renal disease, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeals to reopen claims of service connection for kidney stone disease and migraine headaches, finding no new and material evidence that relates these conditions to his service.

The Veteran's kidney stones and residuals of kidney stone surgery are being remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion to determine if his service-connected PTSD and/or residuals of GSW to the chest and abdomen caused or aggravated his kidney stones.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is found to be at least as likely as not related to his service exposure to ionizing radiation, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating higher than 40 percent for residuals of renal cell carcinoma, status post partial right nephrectomy, is denied as the evidence does not show symptoms more nearly approximating voiding dysfunction requiring the use of an appliance or the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed more than four times per day.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities require regular aid and attendance of another person due to the functional limitations, including inability to prepare meals, manage finances, and perform necessary hygiene tasks.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, a callus of the left foot, and kidney disease. The Veteran was exposed to aircraft fuel and hydraulic fluid during service, which may be relevant to his current conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's right kidney condition and requests a new opinion from a different provider.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney condition has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, including as due to herbicide exposure and secondary to a service-connected disability, is being remanded.

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer and prostate cancer, both linked to Agent Orange exposure, due to insufficient evidence of a causal link between the conditions and active service.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), coronary artery disease, kidney disease, anemia, bilateral eye disorder, and hypertension, all of which are presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange in Thailand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been dismissed. The issues of an initial compensable rating for right nephrolithiasis and TDIU have been remanded.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for kidney cancer is reopened and granted. The lumbar spine disability claim is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's kidney transplant/removal and end stage renal disease, finding that these conditions are related to an in-service urinary tract infection from June 1982.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral pyelonephritis with kidney scarring substantially contributed to his death from myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional VA and private treatment records. The Veteran's TDIU claim is inextricably intertwined with his increased rating claim for diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colon cancer and kidney cysts due to in-service exposure, as well as any aggravation of a service-connected disability. The AOJ is instructed to obtain new medical nexus opinions addressing these issues.