Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no causal link between any in-service condition and the Veteran’s death. The causes of death were attributed to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, hypotension, acute renal failure, and NSTEMI.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and hypertension are related to service, warranting service connection.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his acute respiratory failure and septic shock were not related to active service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether service-connected melanoma caused or contributed to the Veteran's death from chronic and acute renal failure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's kidney disability, including oncocytoma and left kidney removal, is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis is granted as service-connected.,His hypertension does not warrant a compensable initial disability evaluation.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from a July 1993 left total hip replacement (THR) due to lack of evidence showing negligence or informed consent, as the leg-length discrepancy was considered a normal and expected outcome of the procedure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to in-service herbicide exposure, as well as the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, and the cause of death claim. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed period of temporary active duty with the Air Force and obtain any relevant personnel records. Additionally, a VA opinion is needed regarding the relationship between in-service herbicide exposure and the Veteran’s kidney disability.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed exposure to chemicals at Fort McClellan, between July 1975 and September 1975.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for lupus, fibromyalgia, left hip disability, right hip disability, sinus disability, right upper extremity neuropathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, and kidney disability due to unresolved medical opinions regarding causation or aggravation.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of records and need for additional examinations. The issues include skin disability, bilateral foot disability, sleep apnea, kidney disability other than nephropathy, eye disability (claimed as due to diabetes mellitus), colon cancer, major depressive disorder, and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The right kidney cancer, including the nephrectomy, is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the etiology of the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for neoplasm of the kidney and diabetic nephropathy and renal dysfunction due to service in Southwest Asia, as well as their secondary relationship to fibromyalgia. The VA examinations were inadequate and a new opinion is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current kidney condition is related to her service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes and kidney disability due to contaminated water exposure at Camp Lejeune. The diabetes claim is remanded because a more definitive medical opinion was not provided, and the kidney disability claim is remanded as it may be related to the diabetes.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of onset during or within one year after service, and that these conditions are not related to exposure to herbicides or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.