Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disorder and an initial rating for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate medical opinions and lack of evidence regarding exposure to chemicals. The case will be further examined to determine if there is a nexus between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service, including any potential aggravation by his service-connected lumbar spine condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a left adenoma and multiple benign renal simple cysts, finding that the Veteran's herbicide exposure in Vietnam is likely related to these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating claim for prostate cancer residuals is denied.,The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic kidney disease stage 2 due to diabetes mellitus is remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's kidney disease, segmental glomerulosclerosis, and kidney failure.

The Veteran's kidney mass is related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has withdrawn the appeals for headaches and heart disability. The claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension, bilateral eye glaucoma, erectile dysfunction, kidney calculi, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and depression are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for low back disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and chronic kidney disease. Bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral renal cortical cysts are service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, but the evidence does not show any current symptoms or complications. The Board finds a VA examination is needed to determine the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran's renal disorder is being remanded for further evaluation due to incomplete medical records and the need for a new VA opinion. The issue of service connection remains under consideration.

The appeal for service connection of headaches was granted due to new evidence. Service connection for chronic kidney disease and acquired psychiatric disorder were denied.

The Veteran's request to reopen claims for service connection for internal bleeding and kidney failure was granted. The claim for kidney failure is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service, including exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for IgA nephropathy and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been granted due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease due to additional development needed, including verifying service in the Korean DMZ and exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's current conditions may be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability is granted, but the case is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of his condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected low back disability, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss contributed substantially or materially to his death. The Appellant is invited to submit any additional evidence she would like considered in connection with this claim.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's conditions, particularly his kidney problems related to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension is being remanded due to the inadequate and confusing nature of the May 2020 VA medical opinion. The Board requires a new examination by a nephrologist or urologist to determine if CKD was caused by or aggravated by hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and the need for a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of all conditions that contributed to the Veteran's death, including exposure to herbicide agents. The Appellant is also required to be substituted as claimant in the claims for service connection for leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, and diabetic neuropathy.

The Board has decided that there may be relevant VA and private treatment records for the Veteran's CKD, and remanded to obtain these records.

The Board dismissed all issues of appeal due to the Veteran's death.