Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's service connection claims for hepatitis C, hemorrhoids, rhinitis, sinusitis, kidney condition, cirrhosis of the liver, hemochromatosis, and arthritis due to issues with the character of discharge from his second period of active duty.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, right upper extremity pain, left upper extremity pain, right lower extremity pain, left lower extremity pain, and a kidney condition due to inextricability with the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus. Additional development is needed regarding whether obesity is an intermediate step between the Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes.

The Veteran's kidney condition, including biopsy-proven membranous nephropathy, is being remanded for a VA medical examination to determine if it is related to his service-connected prostate cancer. The issue of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of service-connected prostate cancer, claimed as incontinence, is also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and firefights in the Korean DMZ. The VA needs to contact the JSRRC for unit records to determine if the Veteran was exposed to these factors during his service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for tinnitus is dismissed as he withdrew his claim prior to the Board's decision.,His bilateral hearing loss remains at a 30 percent disability rating, which is the highest possible under the schedular criteria. No higher rating is warranted given the effective date of this award.,The Veteran’s claims for service connection for a heart condition, type II diabetes mellitus, and CKD are remanded due to outstanding private medical records from Dr. A.M. and Dr. P.L.,His claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus is also remanded as it involves herbicide exposure, but the Veteran has not provided any relevant private treatment records.,The Veteran’s claim for service connection for CKD remains pending due to outstanding private medical records from Dr. A.M. and Dr. P.L.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's atrophic left kidney is a congenital defect or disease, and if it worsened during service. The claim will be reconsidered after additional development.

The Board has granted service connection for ulcerative colitis, but denied the claims for hypertension, adenocarcinoma of the lung, neoplasm of the kidney, and diabetic nephropathy and renal dysfunction. The Veteran's preexisting ulcerative colitis was aggravated by service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating for service-connected diabetes mellitus and denial of service connection for kidney disease, finding no clear and unmistakable error in either decision.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for renal disease, to reopen service connection for obesity, and for special monthly compensation on the basis of aid and attendance and/or housebound status due to pending claims at the time of the Veteran's death. The appellant is seeking substitution as a claimant in these cases.

The Board has determined that more development is necessary for the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, high blood pressure, arthritis, and kidney and bladder stones. The Veteran's exposure to non-ionizing radiation from radar equipment during his military service will be considered as part of this process.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and an acquired psychiatric disorder as the evidence did not support a finding of in-service incurrence or continuity of symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete opinions regarding service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

The Board has dismissed all claims of service connection and evaluation for the listed conditions due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with a previous remand directive. The Veteran's kidney tumors are being reviewed again for potential service connection based on exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure of the Veteran to appear for scheduled VA examinations. The claims for service connection for left big toe injury and kidney disability are still pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions were denied. The Board also remanded the issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and renal insufficiency (claimed as severe kidney problems) was denied. The Veteran's PTSD is now rated at 100 percent.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and renal insufficiency, finding that the Veteran's conditions are not related to his service-connected disabilities.,There is no direct evidence linking the Veteran’s current hypertension or renal condition to his military service.