Kidney disease decisions — 2020

The Board has denied a compensable rating for service-connected rhabdomyolysis and has remanded the issue of service connection for acute renal failure.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran’s remaining claims on appeal, including his claim for service connection for a kidney condition.,Specifically, there are no records documenting the exact nephrectomy and no medical evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Service connection for the condition is granted.

The Board denied service connection for left kidney hydronephrosis and ureteral stenosis, finding that the conditions were not incurred in or related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, renal failure, COPD, and right lung disability. Service connection was granted for renal failure due to presumed herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's genitourinary disorder, including recurrent urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, and medullary sponge kidney. The examiner is instructed to address whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of multiple conditions were granted effective October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's kidney condition is being remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinion regarding its relationship to service or service-connected disability.

The appeal for COPD is dismissed. The rating for diabetes mellitus remains denied. The appeals for right lower, left lower, right upper, and left upper extremity neuropathy, as well as ED and chronic kidney disease are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 9, 2010 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD/psychological disorder, along with other service-connected disabilities, rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since April 9, 2010.

The Board dismissed all claims for service connection, including those related to herbicide exposure, as the Veteran's representative withdrew his appeal prior to a decision.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The effective date for the grant of service connection for erectile dysfunction and SMC(k) rating is set at August 31, 2015.

The Veteran's appeals for right knee disability and chronic kidney disease have been withdrawn.,Service connection has been granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to lumbar spine disability, hypertension as secondary to acquired psychiatric disorder and lumbar spine disabilities, but the claim for sleep apnea remains pending due to insufficient evidence addressing its relationship with service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases due to failure to schedule VA examinations as directed in a previous decision. The Veteran is advised that failing to attend these exams will result in their consideration based on the evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and left radical nephrectomy.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension, spine disability (herniated/compressed discs), cardiomyopathy with AICD, obstructive sleep apnea, and kidney disease. The denial is based on the lack of evidence showing a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding active military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's renal insufficiency may be related to his service-connected heart condition, but more information is needed from a VA examiner. The TDIU issue is also remanded due to its connection with the service connection issue.