Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic liver disease with kidney failure, and a heart disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. Additional development is needed to address the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's service connection claim for bilateral kidney disease is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination and the need to clarify the etiology of his disability, which may be related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Korea, which may affect the outcome of these cases.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of renal cancer has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance or bedridden, thus denying entitlement to special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral knee disorder and left kidney disability due to insufficient evidence in previous decisions. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and a renal disability, finding that the evidence did not support a finding of service connection due to lack of continuity of symptomatology or causation.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including neck/cervical spine disability, back/thoracolumbar spine disability, right elbow disability, left ankle disability, right hand numbness, scars, recurrent right ankle sprain, right foot disability, left foot disability, right kidney disorder, and left kidney disorder. The claims were based on direct service connection.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disability, bilateral kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected as it did not have onset during or within one year after separation from service and there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure that could cause the current condition.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is not service-connected as there is no evidence showing its onset during service or being related to an in-service event, injury, or disease. The diagnosis was made post-service.,There is no diagnosed bilateral eye condition due to service or service-connected disease or injury.,The Veteran's kidney condition is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service and there is no evidence showing its relation to a service-connected disability.,The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,The Veteran's peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity is not service-connected as it did not have onset during service, is not secondary to a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of in-service exposure that could cause the condition.,There is no diagnosed skeletal arthritis or gout due to service or service-connected disease or injury.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection due to their grant in an earlier decision, leaving no unresolved issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment since June 29, 2006. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, which may be related to his service. The case will be reviewed with additional medical evidence and an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's pituitary and adrenal gland conditions are not service-connected as they are secondary to his service-connected diabetes. The Veteran's hypertension, however, is presumed to be related to herbicide agent exposure.,Service connection for the Veteran's pituitary and adrenal gland conditions is denied, while service connection for his hypertension is granted based on presumptive exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to incomplete records and need for further medical opinions.

The Board denied service connection for renal cell carcinoma, including as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran's condition began during service or was related to his acknowledged herbicide exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for a bilateral eye disability, bilateral kidney disability, and muscle spasms. The Veteran's claims for these conditions are based on direct service connection rather than secondary or presumptive service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claims for peripheral neuropathy of the right and left upper extremities, ischemic heart disease, and kidney disability have been denied.,The Board has found no current disabilities in these conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding service connection for arthritis, chronic kidney disease (including due to exposure at Camp Lejeune), and high blood pressure.

The Board has already granted the claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic kidney disease associated with hypertension in a previous decision, so this appeal is dismissed.