Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the cases for further development regarding potential exposure to herbicide agents during service in Panama. The Veteran's claims for various conditions are now pending.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for kidney cancer and melanoma due to new evidence received after the March 2014 rating decision.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 20, 2012 for service connection of chronic kidney disease associated with hypertension due to diabetes. The claim of entitlement to a higher initial rating for chronic kidney disease associated with hypertension is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Chronic Kidney Disease, attributing these conditions to the Veteran's presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to insufficient discussion of previous opinions and new evidence not addressed in the original decision.

The Board has granted the Veteran's requests to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and chronic kidney disease. The cases are remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any psychiatric disability, specifically PTSD, and an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current kidney condition and any diagnosed psychiatric conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence in her claims file. Specifically, she needs updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine if her current diagnoses are related to service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is granted as presumptively related to his in-service exposure at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB. Service connection for chronic renal disease, anemia, and paroxysmal atrial tachycardia are also granted based on their proximate relationship to service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that his atrophic kidney was a congenital defect and not aggravated by active service.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, but remanded the issues of renal and heart disabilities due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease (CAD) is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, alcohol use disorder, lung disability, and kidney disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right kidney atrophy is a congenital disease or defect, and if it pre-existed service.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during her military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate efforts in obtaining relevant medical records and a need for an examination regarding potential herbicide exposure. The Veteran's kidney disorders are being reviewed again as new evidence suggests they may be related to service.

The Board has granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another. The appeals for service connection for Parkinson's disease and kidney disorder are dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to unsuccessful attempts by VA to obtain relevant records from the Veteran's SSA disability benefits file. The issues of entitlement to service connection for kidney disorder, peripheral neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, and COPD are being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, stroke, kidney disorder, lumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and bilateral eye disorder. The issues have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the reopening of claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, stroke, kidney disorder, lumbar spine disorder, prostate cancer, acquired psychiatric disorder (secondary to a lumbar spine disorder), and bilateral eye disorder. The issues have been remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.

The Veteran's service connection for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) has been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for various conditions are remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the relationship between those conditions and CML.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU on an extraschedular basis because his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.