Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board has decided that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease and hypertension are related to his active service. However, due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hypertension, the case is being remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's urolithiasis (kidney stones) and its relationship to his military service, diabetes mellitus, and any herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney disorders, including as due to herbicide exposure and/or as secondary to service-connected hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that his current kidney disorders were incurred in or related to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ESRD, to include as secondary to hypertension, due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of his hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to May 3, 2017.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of service connection for a skin disability, sleep apnea, kidney cancer, and enlarged prostate are also being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for a congenital deviated nasal septum with rhinitis due to lack of evidence of superimposed disease or injury during service. The case is remanded for further development regarding kidney disorder, hypertension, and cardiomyopathy.

The Veteran's appeal is about whether he is entitled to an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for chronic kidney disease with renal artery stenosis and hypertension prior to November 29, 2013. The Board has decided that this issue needs further examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for peripheral neuropathy of bilateral lower extremities, hypertension, kidney disability, vision disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD) due to lack of competent evidence establishing current diagnoses or in-service incurrence.

The Board has found that the Veteran's Alzheimer’s disease is not related to service and denied his claim.,The Board also found no evidence of bilateral hearing loss due to in-service noise exposure and denied his claim for this condition.,For the remaining conditions, including bilateral upper and lower diabetic neuropathy, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, kidney condition, coronary artery disease, Bell's Palsy, and prostate cancer, additional development is required as no medical nexus opinions have been provided.

The Board denied service connection for urinary incontinence, hyperhidrosis, and a headache disorder. Service connection was also denied for a kidney disorder.,Service connection for urinary incontinence was denied as the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune did not result in his current condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records and potential exposure at Dugway Proving Grounds. Further development is needed, including obtaining private provider records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic kidney disease, stage III was denied as there is no evidence that he submitted any formal or informal communications with respect to reopening his claim prior to October 23, 2014.

The Board has determined that new and relevant service department records were obtained after a prior denial of service connection for the Veteran's carcinoma of the appendix. The claims are remanded to reconsider the claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of right and left knee disabilities, as well as chronic kidney disease, were granted. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and ischemic heart disease are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD), kidney failure, liver inflammation/infection, and high blood pressure are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to obtain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, as secondary to chronic kidney disease with hypertension and migraine headaches. The case is now before the Board again due to inadequate compliance with previous remand directives.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral eye disorders, hypertension, and a genitourinary disorder has been dismissed. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.