Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including as due to herbicide exposure, is granted. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's kidney condition.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of low back, left knee, right knee, and kidney disorders due to withdrawal by the Veteran. The claims for service connection of left heel, right heel, and left ankle disorders are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during service aboard the USS Constellation.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for various conditions, but has remanded these cases due to incomplete information regarding his exposure and treatment.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diabetes, hypertension, renal failure, and sleep apnea syndrome as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides, particularly at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. The VA will conduct further development by contacting the Compensation and Pension Service and the JSRRC.

The Veteran's appeals for a compensable rating for residuals of renal cell carcinoma and an initial higher than 20 percent rating for right flank abdominal hernia have been dismissed.,An initial 40 percent disability rating for right flank intercostal nerves neuropathic pain from May 12, 2010, and an initial 10 percent disability rating for right flank surgical scars from May 12, 2010, are granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for chronic kidney disease with hypertension is being remanded due to the need for updated treatment records and a supplemental VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for COPD and renal cancer due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to herbicide agents, asbestos, or other in-service events. The Veteran's service on USS Hancock is also under review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for glaucoma, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and kidney disease due to insufficient development of the record. The claims are being returned for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disability, kidney disability, and residuals of a head injury due to incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's claim for cancer of the kidney has been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology. The claims for hypertension and lung disorder related to herbicide agent exposure have also been remanded, as there are no service medical records available.,Service connection is being considered for tinnitus based on in-service noise exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease, but denied service connection for microscopic hematuria and left kidney hydronephrosis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current kidney disorder, including calculi of the kidney and nephritis, which was incurred in or is otherwise causally related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for a kidney disorder is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for chronic renal disease, stage III has been withdrawn by the appellant prior to a decision being made.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to determine the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including whether they are related to in-service chemical exposure. The case is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral renal cell carcinoma was not found to be related to service, including as secondary to his diabetes mellitus or due to herbicide exposure. The Board found the evidence insufficient to establish a link between the cancer and any of these factors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU. The PTSD rating is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to determine if he served in the territorial sea of Vietnam, which could affect his eligibility for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.