Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and prostate disability due to potential exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Veteran is not presumed to have been exposed to herbicides, but his current diagnoses may be related to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is not related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for a sleep disorder (OSA) will be remanded as no VA examiner has provided an opinion on its relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and for an expert medical opinion regarding asbestos exposure. The service connection issues are related, so the SMC issue is also being remanded.

The Veteran's renal failure is related to his service-connected hypertension, and the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression) has been denied. The Veteran does not have left hand tremors or a current diagnosis of heart disease. His hypertension is currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 1, 2012 for the Veteran's cause of death due to exposure to Agent Orange and pre-existing heart condition. The appellant is also entitled to service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for TIA was reopened and granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney condition was not reopened.

The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Veteran's Parkinson’s disease and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD) are not service-connected.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD and MDD), leukemia, COPD, AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder, urinary frequency, erectile dysfunction, sleep apnea, peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability), DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II), and lumbar spine disability are not granted.,Service connection for leukemia is remanded.,Service connection for COPD is remanded.,Service connection for AC joint arthritis of the left shoulder (claimed as arthritis of the left shoulder) is remanded.,Service connection for urinary frequency, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII with diabetic ulcer of the right foot or service-connected lumbar spine disability, and service connection for erectile dysfunction, to include as secondary to service-connected DMII or service-connected lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.,Service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 30 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity prior to July 19, 2012, and higher than 20 percent thereafter; peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity; and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.,Service connection for cervical spine disability (cervical spine disability); service connection for DMII (diabetes mellitus, type II); and service connection for lumbar spine disability are remanded.,Service connection for CAD associated with hypertension is remanded.,Service connection for lipoma tumor on the spine is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for renal failure, left ear hearing loss, and denied service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's kidney condition is considered to be related to his military service, while the evidence does not support a finding of current right ear hearing loss.

The Board granted service connection for kidney stones and migraine headaches, assigning a 30% rating effective July 2, 2018.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a prostate disability and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been denied as there is no evidence of a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating increases due to insufficient evidence in his medical records, particularly regarding his left knee gout, right hip conditions, and chronic kidney disease.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to active service or any incident of service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU due to delays in scheduling VA examinations, and requests additional development of his medical records.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for service connection and ratings related to gout, chronic kidney disease, and primary open angle glaucoma with early onset senile cataract. The appeal regarding a rating in excess of 60% for chronic kidney disease prior to January 18, 2018 is partially dismissed.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute myeloid leukemia, which is presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for AML is granted. The Veteran's right eye choroidal melanoma, loss of sight and renal failure are not service-connected as they were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher. The Board has remanded cases for service connection of various conditions claimed as secondary to herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left renal artery stenosis, post-stent placement, is related to his service and grants this claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for skeletal arthritis, bilateral eye condition, kidney cancer, and erectile dysfunction have been denied as there is no evidence of a direct or presumptive relationship to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, kidney disability (secondary to diabetes), and eye condition (glaucoma and cataracts) are not service-connected for accrued purposes.,The Veteran's bladder cancer is not service-connected for accrued purposes. The issue of TDIU is also remanded.