Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection for end stage renal disease on dialysis and amputation of left leg, foot, and toes have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and bilateral ankle sprain with talus osteochondral lesion, finding no evidence of a current disability or causal relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for myeloproliferative disorder and renal cell carcinoma is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions, as well as whether they are related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for kidney disability, including as related to exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran is advised to file a Supplemental Claim if he wishes to continue his appeal.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is found to be related to his exposure at Camp Lejeune, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Fort Wainwright. The case is returned to the RO for additional development, including requests from the Compensation Service and a review of unit records.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, type 2, hypertension, and kidney failure as the evidence did not show these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate discussion of a VA examiner's opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's kidney disability. The Veteran is asked to provide releases for any non-VA care providers and copies of her VA treatment records are sought. A new examination by an appropriately qualified clinician is arranged to address the etiology of her current kidney disability under the correct legal standard, based on review of the entire evidentiary record.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has reopened the issue of service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to new evidence received since a final December 2007 rating decision. The remaining issues on appeal, including those related to back disability and other conditions, are remanded for further development.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disease, finding that the Veteran's current kidney disease did not manifest in service or for many years thereafter and was not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, which was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that there was no evidence of unemployability prior to April 24, 2014.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete records and inadequate VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for a kidney disability, finding that the Veteran's daily use of TCE during service is at least as likely as not the cause of his current condition.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for liver, kidney, and lung conditions due to insufficient information about the qualifications of the VA examiner who performed a July 2020 examination. The Veteran's representative also requested records from Dr. Bowers, but their relevance to the current issues is unclear.

Service connection for cardiomyopathy, COPD, and renal disease claimed as related to herbicide exposure or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any relevant complaints or diagnoses. His current conditions are attributed to his history of cocaine abuse, smoking, hypertension, and pre-existing kidney issues.

The Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorder are granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicides. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded as the evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or depressive disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inaccuracies in a previous medical opinion and additional development is needed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for his service-connected kidney removal scar, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on instability or pain of the scar.