Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, type II diabetes mellitus, and prostate cancer as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of end stage renal failure has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease and renal cell carcinoma, finding that these conditions are the result of service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney problems and gastrointestinal disability did not begin during service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease, thus denying her claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for chronic kidney disease, specifically nephritis. The Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam may be relevant.

The Board has granted service connection for retinopathy, insulin reaction (previously claimed as adrenal cortical hypofunction and Addison’s Disease), and hypertension. These conditions are found to be directly related to the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type I.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, who was the Veteran's surviving spouse. The claims for service connection for gastrointestinal cancer and kidney disorder are no longer valid as they were not decided.

The Board has granted service connection for headaches, but denied service connection for kidney disability and sleep disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's intestinal parasite during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a right kidney removal was denied.,His claim for service connection of his right knee disability, which is secondary to his service-connected left knee and ankle disabilities, was also denied.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disability is granted as secondary to his service-connected right knee arthroplasty. The need for aid and attendance due to multiple service-connected disabilities is also granted.

The Board has decided that VA medical staff may have caused the Veteran's end-stage kidney disease due to negligence in prescribing medications and treatment, which is now being reviewed by a new examiner.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's kidney disorder, joint pain, and TDIU.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, finding that it was not incurred during his period of service and is not related to his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The Board also found that the current kidney disorder is not secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and/or coronary artery disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease and obstructive uropathy, claiming as chronic UTI. The VA examiners concluded that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and service, including any asbestos exposure in service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left adrenal gland carcinoma and gastric cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for the aggravation of chronic kidney disease by diabetes mellitus, hypertension due to diabetes mellitus, and PTSD with major depressive disorder with psychotic symptoms has been granted. The appeals for initial ratings in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus with bilateral cataracts, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction are remanded. The appeal for TDIU is also remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to the complexity of the medical issues involved, and a need for an adequate VA medical opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's ESRD and his service. The case will be returned for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to multiple conditions, none of which are service-connected. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during the Veteran's service in Korea and thus denied service connection for the cause of death.