Kidney disease decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as he can perform sedentary work despite his limitations.

The Veteran's claims for increased rating of right knee disability, service connection for headache disorder, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease are remanded due to insufficient evidence. The Board requests that VA medical professionals provide updated opinions on the etiology of these conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney disease-dialysis and the cause of death due to chronic kidney failure. The Veteran's kidney disease is linked to his in-service exposure to burn pits, which caused him to be exposed to organic solvents like dioxin/benzene.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease due to exposure at Camp Lejeune have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to his death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, DM, and a kidney disorder due to herbicide exposure have been reopened. The issues of service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, DM, as due to herbicide exposure, and for kidney disorder, as secondary to DM are remanded for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney failure, finding no evidence of a direct or presumptive link to service. The Board also found that there was insufficient evidence to establish secondary service connection based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a prostate disability with frequent urination is denied as the evidence does not show that his current condition was caused by herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was denied as there is no competent evidence of current migraines.,PTSD was rated at 70 percent since October 13, 2020. The Veteran was granted a TDIU due to PTSD and SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable disability evaluation for service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis and for service connection for clear cell carcinoma with renal cell carcinoma and kidney removal due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the severity of his tuberculosis throughout the period on appeal, the nature and etiology of his cancer, and whether his service-connected condition caused or aggravated his cancer.

The Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of renal cell carcinoma and anxiety disorder have been granted due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic headaches, kidney disorder, cataracts, and MDD have been granted. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and an incorrect medical opinion. The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is being reviewed for service connection, herbicide exposure, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims of CUE in the September 2009 rating decision that implicitly denied service connection for retroperitoneal fibrosis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, arteriosclerosis, bilateral ureteral obstruction, hypertension, hypoperfusion, and pilonidal cyst are being remanded. The RO must address whether these conditions were related to herbicide exposure and re-evaluate the Veteran's claims after the August 2010 expansion of the herbicide diseases listed in 38 C.F.R. § 3.309(e).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney condition should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of his current disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will attempt to verify the Veteran's claimed in-service exposures and readjudicate the appeal on the merits.

The Veteran's kidney condition, categorized as end stage renal failure post status kidney transplant, is granted secondary to service-connected hypertension. The claim for TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and tinnitus have been granted. The claim for PTSD has been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the relationship between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's cause of death is being reviewed again with new evidence considered.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and kidney stones due to conflicting medical opinions. The service connection for these conditions is denied as there is no evidence of a nexus between the current diagnoses and service.