Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is found to be a result of long-term use of NSAIDs prescribed for his service-connected right knee and ankle disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current kidney disease is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected bilateral knee and back disabilities, thus granting service connection for kidney disease.

The Veteran's cause of death was not caused by any service-connected disability, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that his chronic kidney disease or hypertension were related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have prevented him from securing and following substantially gainful employment for the period beginning December 25, 2007, to prior to June 12, 2018.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to failure to comply with previous remand directives. The Veteran is required to provide authorization and identify any outstanding medical records, and he will be given another opportunity to do so.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of an opinion regarding whether the Veteran's FSGS is related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board denied service connection for cirrhosis of the liver and renal disease, finding that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and exposure to Camp Lejeune contaminated water (CLCW). The Veteran's currently diagnosed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (cirrhosis) and chronic kidney disease are not among the listed diseases in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(f), which would allow for presumptive service connection due to exposure to CLCW.

The Veteran's seizures were not incurred during active duty and did not result from an in-service injury, illness, or event.,The Veteran has dermatofibromas that were not incurred during active duty and did not result from an in-service injury, illness, or event.,The Veteran’s kidney disorder was not incurred during active duty and did not result from an in-service injury, illness, or event.,The benign masses on the Veteran's right testicle that required an orchiotomy were not incurred during active duty and did not result from an in-service injury, illness, or event.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for residuals from adrenal gland tumor removal, left-hand disability, right-hand disability, and sleep apnea all claimed to be related to exposure to environmental agents from Project SHAD. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, liver condition, and kidney condition. The Board found that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.

The Veteran's asthma with bronchitis is rated at a 30 percent disability rating. The Board has found an increased evaluation for the Veteran’s asthma with bronchitis is not warranted. The left knee, diverticulitis, and chronic kidney disease claims are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney failure (also claimed as renal toxicity) is dismissed due to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment from August 3, 2009 to December 28, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extraschedular basis for this period.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for cystic kidney disease is denied. The right shoulder disability and left shoulder disability claims are remanded due to new evidence received since the last denial. The peripheral neuropathy of both lower extremities and blood clot disability claims are also remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetic neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy of his lower extremities, rendered him unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment prior to April 24, 2019. The Board granted the TDIU claim based on these conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for acute kidney disease secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease and denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The evidence did not support the Veteran’s contention that his kidney disorder was related to his service or service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of renal failure has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death, and no effective dates are granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver and kidney disabilities, finding no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.