Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney failure have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence. The Board has ordered additional development, including obtaining medical records and requesting an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether his right knee and leg, kidney, and heart disabilities were caused by VA treatment in November 2008 at the Houston VAMC. The opinions are needed to determine if these disabilities were foreseeable consequences of the treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to non-compliance with previous remand directives, particularly regarding verification of his periods of active service, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claims for chronic sinusitis, PTSD, cervical spine disability, low back disability, left leg disability, bilateral kidney condition, hypertension, and allergies have all been denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.,There are no presumptive service connection criteria met for any of the conditions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his service-connected heart condition was denied as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.,Service connection for gout, left shoulder disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, and genitourinary system disability were all denied due to lack of evidence supporting these claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence and the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's heart disorder, myocardial infraction, and chronic kidney disease and his service, particularly given the conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and kidney failure as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has denied earlier effective dates for various service connection claims, and has remanded the issues of service connection for trigger finger of the right middle finger and right ring fingers.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to herbicide agent exposure, as there is no presumption of association with such exposures. The Veteran needs a medical opinion on whether his kidney cancer and skin cancers are related to his specific exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted TDIU for the entire period on appeal.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking renal cell carcinoma to service or Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or fuel for arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive vascular disease, chronic renal disease, and type II diabetes mellitus. The VA is instructed to contact the JSRRC to determine if herbicides were used in Okinawa, Japan (particularly at Kadena Air Base) during the relevant time period.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is currently rated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.,There is no evidence of a kidney disability during or recent to the appeal period. The Veteran's claims for service connection for circulatory problems, hypertension, and prostate hypertrophy are remanded as additional medical opinions are needed.

The Board has restored service connection for cardiomyopathy with acute renal failure, which was previously severed due to the Veteran's history of substance abuse. The claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis of depression or sleep apnea related to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney disease and hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The appellant contends that these conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board denied service connection for a left kidney disability, finding that there is no current evidence of such a condition and noting the Veteran's subjective reports do not align with objective medical findings.

The Board has granted service connection for bipolar disorder and chronic kidney disease, both secondary to the Veteran's service-connected bipolar disorder. The claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in February 1977.

The Board denied service connection for blurred vision and kidney stones, finding no current disability eligible for VA compensation purposes. Service connection was granted for bilateral plantar fasciitis with calcaneal spurs.,The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further examination on the issues of respiratory disability, right shoulder disability, and CTS of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service records, specifically regarding the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ACDUTRA) and inactive duty for training (INACDUTRA) in Puerto Rico National Guard from 1997 to 2000. The VA needs to obtain these records to determine if the Veteran's kidney disability had its onset during service.

The Veteran's appeal includes issues related to lung cancer, neurobehavioral effects from Camp Lejeune exposure, a scar status post left kidney removal, and major depression. The Board has remanded several of these issues for further development.,An effective date prior to June 29, 2009 is granted for the increased rating of 50 percent for major depression.