Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of kidney cancer, a right lower extremity disability other than a right knee disability or peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and restless leg syndrome have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a nexus between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to obtain all relevant private and VA medical treatment records, including those from Associated Medical Professionals of NY, PLLC. The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney stones are related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, to include nephrolithiasis, due to the Veteran's failure to report for a VA examination. The case is now pending and will be scheduled for another examination.

The appeal involving the veteran's claims for plantar callosities, end stage renal disease, hypertension, coronary artery disease, back disability, and right and left leg disorders including a vascular condition has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder is denied. The claim for tinnitus is granted, and the claim for gastrointestinal disorder is remanded.

The Board is unable to make a decision on the service connection claims for kidney stone disease and migraine headaches due to incomplete medical records. The Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) disability award letter lists chronic kidney stones and chronic headaches as severe impairments, but the associated medical records are not in the VA record. The Board must obtain these SSA records before deciding whether new evidence has been received to reopen the claims.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration. The Veteran's claims of service connection are not supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's left and right knee disabilities are granted as service connected.,His major depressive disorder is found to have been aggravated during his deployment, warranting service connection.,There is no evidence of a kidney disability at any time related to the appeal.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including headaches, kidney disability, anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Veteran is not entitled to an initial compensable rating for headaches, his claim of service connection for a kidney disability remains pending, he must provide new evidence to reopen his previously denied claim, he needs to establish service connection for anxiety disorder, sleep apnea, left thumb disability, broken ribs residuals, lipoma scar, and bilateral pes cavus. The Board will review the claims again after obtaining any outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a renal disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of such disorder and that it is not related to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include PTSD, hearing loss, tinnitus, cystic kidney disease, keratoconjunctivitis, sleep apnea, and an acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for kidney failure has been granted. The Board finds new and material evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran’s claim, which is raising a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.,The Veteran's duodenal ulcer is currently rated at 20 percent under Diagnostic Code 7305. The Board has determined that his symptoms do not warrant a higher rating as they are primarily continuous abdominal pain.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney failure, and blackouts due to in-service herbicide exposure. The AOJ did not act on the February 2019 remand directives related to these conditions.

The Veteran's kidney disabilities, including cystic kidney disease, stage 3 kidney disease, and recurrent kidney stones, are granted as service-connected. The prostate disability and bladder disability claims are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including breast carcinoma, gynecomastia, cancer of the blood (claimed as leukemia), prostate cancer, lung cancer, and renal carcinoma. The Board found that these conditions were not related to in-service asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left renal cell carcinoma and gastric cancer, both of which are presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The case is being sent back for additional medical opinions that address whether these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection of sarcoidosis, cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C, and chronic renal disease as these conditions were not claimed or arose within one year after separation from active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a kidney disability, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service event or injury causing the disability and no continuous post-service symptoms within one year of separation. The preponderance of the evidence did not support the claim.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disability, claimed as depression, has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hepatitis C and liver disease was denied due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to service or secondary to another condition. New and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.