Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, renal cell carcinoma, and PTSD have been granted. The claim for service connection for ischemic heart disease is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's acute renal failure, diabetes mellitus, or hypertension were related to service, including exposure to benzene. The issues include determining if these conditions are service-connected.

The Board has denied service connection for tooth erosion due to GERD, as the Veteran does not have a current dental disability. The case is remanded for further examination and evaluation of the Veteran's GERD and kidney stones with hydronephrosis.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claims for service connection for IHD, DM II, Bladder Cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma, and Bilateral Peripheral Neuropathy of the Lower Extremities due to exposure to herbicides (AO) and radiation.,A remand is required to determine if the Veteran had regular and repeated contact with C-123 aircraft known to have been used to spray an herbicide agent during the Vietnam era, as well as to verify his service at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and at Clear Air Force Station in Alaska.

The Board has denied service connection for left ear hearing loss due to lack of a current disability as defined by VA regulations. The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney condition and has remanded the issues of entitlement to a disability rating greater than 20 percent for degenerative arthritis of the spine and lumbar degenerative joint disease (thoracolumbar spine condition) and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

Service connection for kidney disease, gout, sleep apnea (SA), and hypertension are granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II. A rating higher than 20 percent for DMII is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver, liver transplant, and a kidney disorder associated with diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection for hepatitis C is denied as there is no evidence of current disability or causation. The right knee disorder claim was remanded.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) has ordered the Board to remand the case due to an error in determining the Veteran's exposure to herbicides during his service in Panama. The CAVC found that the Board incorrectly stated there were no duty assignments in Panama and thus wrongfully concluded the Veteran was not exposed to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claims for renal condition, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral pes planus, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and bilateral knee disabilities have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.,These issues are being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to make a determination on their merits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pre-existing kidney stones did not worsen during service, and therefore denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the cases due to conflicting evidence regarding the type of diabetes mellitus and potential in-service exposure to VOCs or herbicides. The Veteran's service records need to be verified, and his Social Security Administration (SSA) records should also be obtained.

The Board has granted service connection for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis with Chronic Kidney Disease, finding it at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service.

The Veteran's death was caused by renal cancer, which the Board found to be related to his exposure to herbicides while serving in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is granted.

The Board denied service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not due to exposure to herbicides or asbestos. The condition may be related to the Veteran's smoking habits, obesity, and hypertension.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which is not service-connected. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between diabetes mellitus and renal cell cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's chronic kidney disease and asbestos exposure. The appeal is also being considered on new evidence that reopened a previously denied claim.

The Veteran's kidney cancer with left nephrectomy was granted service connection effective March 14, 2017, due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The flat feet claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the cases due to new evidence being submitted by the Veteran and VA records added to the claims file. The cases will be reconsidered, and a supplemental statement of the case must be issued.