Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have rendered him materially less capable of resisting the effects of his fatal metastatic squamous cell cancer, renal failure, and cerebrovascular accident. Therefore, DIC benefits are granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding service connection for a kidney disorder, including chronic kidney disease and as secondary to PTSD.

The Board has remanded the cases of renal cancer, diabetes mellitus (DM), and lung cancer for additional development. The claims are also remanded due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether these conditions were related to in-service exposure to chemicals.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease (CAD) and a kidney disorder, finding that the Veteran's CAD did not manifest in service or within one year of separation from active service and is not caused by his active service. The kidney disorder was also found to have no relation to service.,Service connection for both conditions was denied based on lack of evidence showing their onset during service or a direct link to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's stage IV renal cell carcinoma, bone cancer, and respiratory cancer are all found to be related to his service-connected stage IV renal cell carcinoma due to herbicide exposure during the Vietnam conflict. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's heart disorder and penile deformity with erectile dysfunction were granted service connection. The rating for the penile condition was restored to 20%. Special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance and due to loss of use of a kidney was also granted.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's claimed conditions to his military service, including environmental exposures during his deployment in Southwest Asia. The VA is required to obtain new examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the VA treatment did not cause his death. The Veteran was not continuously rated totally disabled for at least ten years prior to his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for neck lipoma, left flank hernia, and additional left kidney disability due to VA treatment in April 2002. The evidence does not establish that these conditions were caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA, nor was there an unforeseeable event.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for COPD, lung cancer, an oncocytoma, and ESRD due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional development is needed to obtain updated VA treatment records and expert medical opinions.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that these conditions are proximately due to or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and now service-connected hypertension, respectively.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service in Korea. The VA is required to seek confirmation from the JSRRC for verification of the Veteran’s exposure to herbicide agents, including proximity to the DMZ, for the entire period from October 1970 to August 1971.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a kidney disorder was dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for a left hip disability as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected benign hyperpituitarism. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for benign neoplasms of the genitourinary system, claimed as benign neoplasms of the bilateral kidneys and testicles, due to potential exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the primary site of the Veteran's cancer and its relation to service, specifically in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues of service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for bilateral glaucoma and kidney conditions, finding that they are not proximately caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.