Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's back condition, right shoulder strain, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as a left shoulder and hand condition), and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as a right hand condition) are all granted. The kidney condition is remanded for further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete opinions and the passage of the PACT Act, requiring further development and an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's bilateral kidney disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy affecting both upper and lower extremities as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II.,Service connection was also granted for non-ischemic heart disease (including congestive heart failure, ventricular arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy), hypertension, and chronic kidney disease (secondary to service-connected hypertension).

The Board has denied service connection for kidney stones and residuals of kidney stone surgery, finding that the evidence does not support a causal relationship to service or any other condition.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for end stage renal disease, allergies, and diabetes mellitus due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's STRs are silent on these conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by complications including diabetes mellitus, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in service. Service connection for the cause of death is granted under the PACT Act.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating for service-connected major depressive disorder from December 17, 2018 is dismissed as moot.,The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for epididymitis of the left testicle remains denied. The evidence does not support a finding that his condition meets or more closely approximates the criteria for a 30 percent disability rating.,The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for right hip degenerative changes with trochanter bursitis is remanded, as there is insufficient evidence to determine if he meets the criteria for a 20 percent disability rating based on limitation of abduction.,The Veteran's claim for chronic lumbar strain remains denied. The evidence does not support a finding that his condition meets or more closely approximates the criteria for a higher disability rating.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for gout is denied. The evidence does not support a finding that his condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney stones is denied. The evidence does not support a finding that his condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has granted service connection for a kidney condition and hypertension, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his in-service heat stroke. The claims were remanded for further examination of tinea cruris.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus II, prostate disability (including prostate cancer), essential hypertension, ocular hypertension, kidney disease, right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have all been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicide agents or any other event, injury, or disease related to the Veteran's claimed conditions.,The Board concluded that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection as his claims are based on direct service connection and not on presumptive service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for cervical radiculopathy of the upper extremities and degenerative arthritis of the spine are remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus type II is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for degenerative arthritis of the hands, with ununited fracture ulnar styloid on the right, is remanded due to lack of recent VA treatment records.,The Veteran's claim for gout, bilateral great toe MTP joint, is remanded as there were no recent private medical records submitted.,The Veteran's claim for left ankle insertional Achilles tendinopathy with gout is remanded due to inadequate nexus opinion on the part of the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for hypertension is remanded as there was no current diagnosis in the October 2021 VA examination.,The Veteran's claim for nummular eczema is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.,The Veteran's claim for prostate condition is remanded due to an inadequate nexus opinion based on the absence of a presumptive condition list.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for acid reflux, bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, residuals of left ankle fracture, and urinary incontinence secondary to a psychiatric disorder. The other claims remain denied as new evidence does not relate to these issues.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 1, 2015 for the grant of a TDIU and basic eligibility to DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as of that date.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to incomplete medical opinions and potential need for in-person examinations.

The Veteran's renal dysfunction and partial gastrectomy have resulted in a TDIU from June 1, 2016 to April 11, 2018 due to the physical limitations caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service connection due to the PACT Act, and his erectile dysfunction is also granted. The bilateral renal cysts are denied, with a remand for further review of the renal neoplasm.,Service connection for renal neoplasm remains in dispute, requiring additional medical opinion.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of entitlement to service connection for mild patellofemoral cartilage degeneration of the right knee, jaw condition, unspecified chest pains, kidney condition, dermatitis/eczema, and respiratory condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for tension headaches, atrial septal defect heart disability, and Gilbert's Disease and a right kidney cyst due to incomplete information or need for further development.

The Board denied service connection for polycystic kidney disease and resulting kidney removal, finding that the Veteran's conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by his service or service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for blood in urine, blood in stool, kidney stones, and gallstones are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for carcinoid tumor of the left lung due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. Service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded as it does not fall under a presumptive condition.