Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and opinion regarding service connection for a right knee disorder and a renal mass. The Veteran's claims are pending.

The Board has remanded the issues of entitlement to service connection for aortic atherosclerosis, kidney disorder (claimed as kidney cyst), and bladder cysts due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and thus, the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of the service connection claims.

The Veteran's residuals of renal cell carcinoma are related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's kidney removal scar disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current level of severity.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the rating from 60 percent to 0 percent for renal insufficiency, effective November 1, 2015, was proper and denied the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a right ankle disability is dismissed. The appeals for increased ratings of his right knee and upper respiratory disabilities, as well as service connection for lower extremity and kidney stones disabilities are all remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and back condition due to additional development being necessary.,Service connection is denied for cervical condition, left knee condition, right knee condition, heavy metal poisoning due to Gulf War (including renal involvement), and back condition.

The Veteran's stomach condition and renal cell carcinoma are being remanded for a medical opinion to determine if they are related to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hearing loss and tinnitus. The remaining issues of service connection for kidney disease/kidney cancer with metastasis, residuals of loss of a kidney, and hypertension are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for kidney stones, sleep disorder, and skin disorder (other than PFB) due to insufficient evidence in service records.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various conditions, including eye disability (glaucoma), sleep apnea, colon polyps, GERD, hypothyroidism, restrictive lung disease, and adrenal gland tumor. The decision also notes that the Veteran is in receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits but has not provided relevant SSA records.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's kidney stones are not service-connected as secondary to his service-connected hypertension and diabetes, but a new medical opinion is needed to determine if they were aggravated by these conditions.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for gout, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and memory loss due to inextricability with other issues.

The Board has granted service connection for right kidney renal cell carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam is at least as likely as not related to his condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, hip condition, vitamin D deficiency, anemia, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, skin condition (psoriasis and eczema), thyroid condition, and sleep apnea due to potential secondary relationships with other service-connected conditions or obesity.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II, sarcoidosis, and end stage kidney disease are granted as due to herbicide agent exposure.,Sarcoidosis is granted as secondary to service-connected sarcoidosis.,Hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for shortness of breath, hypertension, kidney disability, and a disability manifested by dizziness and fainting due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cancer with kidney removal and PTSD, as well as the TDIU prior to March 1, 2013, were denied. The Veteran's renal/kidney cancer was found not to be related to service or exposure to herbicides, while his PTSD did not cause total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's kidney cancer, right kidney removal and chronic renal disease were granted service connection with an effective date of October 26, 2015.,Renal cell carcinoma skin lesion was granted service connection with an effective date of May 5, 2016.,Metastatic renal cell carcinoma to lung with pulmonary effusion was granted service connection with an effective date of May 5, 2016.,Chronic diarrhea and constipation were granted service connection with an effective date of December 9, 2015.