Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected kidney disease directly caused or contributed to his death from heart failure and other causes.

The Veteran was granted service connection for an unspecified depressive disorder, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, congestive heart failure, COPD, type II diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease.,Service connection was also granted for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute congestive heart failure, with type II diabetes mellitus as a significant condition contributing to death.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, coronary artery disease, and kidney failure. The claims for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's kidney disease, back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability are all granted as service-connected.,Service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is also granted.

The Board has remanded the claims for COPD, kidney cancer, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's service on submarines is noted as a potential exposure basis.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Korea.

The Veteran's PTSD and other service-connected conditions have not met the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to his overall disability picture, which does not meet the specific eligibility requirements.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney and lung disorders due to exposure to herbicide agents at Fort Detrick. The remand requires obtaining opinions on whether these conditions are related to service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and diabetic peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a finding of total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of proper consideration and the need for an addendum opinion regarding any kidney disability found during the appeal period.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and erectile dysfunction are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and erectile dysfunction due to deficiencies in previous VA opinions. The case is returned for further development, including obtaining clarification on whether the Veteran's hypertension was aggravated by his service-connected chronic kidney disease.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a thoracolumbar spine disability and remanded it due to new evidence suggesting an in-service injury. The VA examiner will be asked to provide an opinion on whether the current back disabilities are related to service.,The Veteran's right lower extremity neuropathy, kidney disability, gastrointestinal disability, and right thigh disability are all secondary to her thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by VA negligence in administering potassium, resulting in aspiration and pneumonia. The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise and granted DIC benefits.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his in-service herbicide exposure, and a VA opinion is needed to determine the etiology of the condition.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to potential exposure to ionizing radiation during service. Service connection will be considered on a direct basis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic renal failure, to include chronic kidney disease, as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus associated with herbicide exposure. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's chronic renal failure was caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral kidney disorder, to include as secondary to Parkinson's Disease (PD), has been reopened. The case is now remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between his PD and kidney disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, finding that an adequate medical opinion is needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for ischemic heart disease and obstructive sleep apnea, but has remanded the claims for a kidney disability, liver disability, and pituitary gland disability due to herbicide agent exposure.