Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's treatment by VA did not result in the claimed disabilities, and there is no evidence of additional disability caused by VA care.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disease, right ear hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus, type II are denied. The claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is denied. Service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, is remanded.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection in all three cases, and the Board is dismissing them.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy, and bilateral eye disability due to additional development being necessary.

The Veteran's claim for SMC-AA was filed on September 11, 2006. The Board granted an effective date of September 11, 2006, but no earlier, for the award of SMC-AA.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, with the latter being secondary to the former, have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him in need of regular aid and attendance, which is granted for special monthly compensation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The issues include left ankle, left knee, right knee disabilities as well as a psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) and kidney disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for benign neoplasm of the kidney, status post left nephrectomy, to include as due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence did not support a finding that the condition was related to in-service exposure or any other in-service injury, disease, or event.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's stage IV renal cell carcinoma, finding that it is etiologically related to his military service and exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam. The claim was previously denied due to lack of a direct link between the condition and service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder, headaches, back injury, neck injury, right hip injury, left ankle injury, ulcers, heart problems, kidney failure, head trauma, and seizures have been granted. The appeals are remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart, kidney, and liver disabilities due to their relationship with his service-connected tuberculosis. The VA will obtain additional medical opinions to determine if these conditions were caused or aggravated by his tuberculosis.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to an error in not considering exposure to commercial herbicides used during the Veteran's active duty.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disability, kidney disability, and radiculopathy of the upper and lower extremities are being remanded due to inadequate medical opinions in previous VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case for a new medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's kidney cancer, as the previous opinion was deemed inadequate. The other service connection claims are denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a lumbar spine disability and a renal condition, finding that the current disabilities are not related to service.

The Veteran's claims for bipolar disorder, dry eye syndrome, and lung disability were denied. The Veteran's ulcer, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis (claimed as stomach pain), GERD, residuals of a cholecystectomy, and kidney stones were all remanded.,The Veteran was not granted service connection for any of the conditions he claimed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disability, ESRD, and depression and anxiety as secondary to ESRD are remanded due to new evidence submitted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and its relationship to his service-connected conditions. The Veteran is also granted service connection for chronic kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic kidney disease, which was linked to exposure at Camp LeJeune, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.