Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not entitled to an increased rating of DIC benefits as she does not meet the criteria for additional DIC benefits due to her marriage duration and lack of dependents, nursing home residency, housebound status or need for aid and attendance.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and colon cancer are related to his military service. The claims for service connection will be remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence of a disability of service origin that caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection of hypertensive renal disease due to exposure to environmental hazards during service in the Persian Gulf War, including burn pits. The Veteran needs a VA examination to determine if his condition is related to service.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's kidney cancer is denied as not service-connected and not associated with herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's renal disability is granted as related to presumed herbicide exposure.,Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus are both granted based on in-service noise exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypercholesterolemia/hyperlipidemia, a dental disability, plantar fasciitis, dizziness, mouth disability, eye disability, skin cancer, sebaceous cyst, thyroid disability, and kidney disability are all denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current disability for which service connection may be granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and a need for a VA opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was related to his in-service high blood pressure readings.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cancer, lung cancer, and anemia as secondary to service-connected renal cancer due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible assertions of exposure to radioactive isotopes during service.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a renal cyst, asthma, left shoulder degenerative arthritis, spondylosis of the lumbar spine, and cervical spondylosis is remanded due to insufficient development. The Veteran will need updated VA treatment records, an opinion on whether her current asthma is related to service, and examinations for her left shoulder, cervical, and lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and hypothyroidism, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, residuals of renal cell cancer, and pituitary microadenoma. The Board found that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his active service or presumed herbicide exposure.,The VA examinations conducted did not find a link between the Veteran’s current conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability, finding that there is no evidence of an in-service disease or injury and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between his current condition and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to new and material evidence. However, the case is remanded as a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's hypertension was related to service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

Service connection granted for bilateral kidney disease and right knee disability. Service connection denied for arthritis of the entire joint system and GERD.,Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was not shown in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination, particularly regarding his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition, an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD), and various musculoskeletal conditions. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss was set at September 12, 2017. All other issues have been remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions were the proximate cause or aggravated his death. The claims for increase are also referred.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for end stage renal disease has been dismissed because the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.

The Board has dismissed the appeals of service connection for various conditions as the Veteran passed away during the appeal process.