Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic kidney disease and a heart condition due to a BCG procedure performed at a VA facility in December 2006, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not indicate fault on the part of VA.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ocular melanoma was not related to service or Agent Orange exposure. The Board also found no evidence of contaminated water at Camp Lejeune contributing to his death.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's chronic renal disease is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As such, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, and kidney disease have been remanded due to the need for additional evidence.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left ankle disability, right ankle disability, left foot gout, and right foot gout are also remanded.

The Veteran's diabetic retinopathy is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The issue of increased rating for chronic diarrhea and service connection for renal disease (kidney) are both remanded.,Chronic diarrhea was not found to be related to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes in this decision.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, kidney cancer (renal cell cancer), and lymph node cancer. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and provide an opinion regarding the causes of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease as secondary to hypertension, heart disease as secondary to hypertension, and diabetes mellitus type II as secondary to hypertension. The Veteran's conditions are found to be proximately due or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease is related to his presumed in-service exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam, and service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's left shoulder hemiarthroplasty is being remanded for further review.,Essential hypertension secondary to sleep apnea or stroke residuals is being remanded for further review.,Sleep apnea secondary to stroke residuals is being remanded for further review.,Osteoarthritis is being remanded for further review.,A chronic kidney disorder with kidney stones, secondary to osteoarthritis, is being remanded for further review.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), secondary to sleep apnea, is being remanded for further review.,Gout, secondary to a chronic kidney disorder, is being remanded for further review.,Coronary artery disease (CAD), secondary to sleep apnea, is being remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and now grants the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for these conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of memory loss or cognitive decline, right ear hearing loss, digestive disorder, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, fatigue, or loss of saliva at any time during the pendency of his claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lung cancer, as these conditions are not related to exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's death made it impossible to proceed with the appeal.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral eye disability and remanded his claims for service connection of right kidney disability and for a higher rating for actinic keratoses. The case is now REMANDED to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran’s right kidney disability, to include whether it is proximately due or caused by a service-connected disability (specifically kidney stones), and if so, whether it has been aggravated by such.

The Veteran's currently diagnosed hypertension is granted as secondary to service-connected PTSD. The Board also finds that the Veteran's kidney disorder, bladder cancer, and erectile dysfunction are aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the previously denied claims. Service connection was also denied for hepatic steatosis and chronic kidney disease due to lack of a causal relationship with military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, malaria, seizures, and kidney disorder. The appeals were based on direct evidence from active duty service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of prostate cancer is granted. The claims for service connection for residuals of kidney cancer, special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ, and an increased disability rating for bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that new evidence supports the claim and establishing service connection on a direct basis due to exposure to environmental hazards during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and no service connection claims were decided.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and its related secondary conditions including hypertension, kidney disease, and bilateral peripheral neuropathies of the upper and lower extremities due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service in the territorial waters of Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and insufficient evidence regarding service connection for autoimmune renal disease, claimed as kidney disease. The Veteran's claim is being returned for further development.