Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer and prostate cancer, finding that the conditions are not related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted due to the enactment of the PACT Act. The Veteran is now entitled to a presumption of exposure to herbicide agents based on his service at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.,The Veteran's claims for kidney disability, nocturia, and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded as they may be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision on his claim for service connection for a left kidney disorder.

The Veteran's kidney disease did not meet the criteria for a higher than 60 percent rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to in-service herbicide agent exposure. The issues of service connection for neurological impairment, kidney condition/urinary tract disability, and bilateral eye disability are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colon cancer, hypertension, spinal cancer tumor, sleep apnea, blood clots in the legs, deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, lung disorder, stroke residuals, neuropathy, cardiac disorder, kidney disorder, and a left leg disorder due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. The remand also includes the issue of a TDIU.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia is not service-connected as it is a laboratory finding, and the claim for this condition is denied.,The Veteran's prostate disability, erectile dysfunction, and kidney disability are not service-connected as they do not meet the criteria based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Korea. The claims are remanded for further development regarding potential herbicide agent exposure.,The Veteran's chest scar requires a VA examination to determine its current severity.,The Veteran is invited to provide or identify any documentation of his Parkinson's disease and/or Parkinsonism, as these conditions may be service-connected based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to conflicting medical opinions and insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and seeking outstanding VA and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is proximately due to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 14, 2021 for a 30 percent evaluation for atrophic right kidney. The criteria were revised on that date and the Veteran's condition met those criteria prior to this revision.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence to support exposure to herbicide agents during service and that the Veteran's conditions were not related to service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic kidney disease is being remanded due to a duty to assist error and the need to consider new evidence, including VA and private medical records. The case will also be reviewed under the amended rating criteria.

The Board has remanded several service connection claims for hypothyroidism, kidney disability, prostate disability, peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity. The claims are being remanded to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error by confirming whether the Veteran was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base during the spraying of herbicide agents.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for rhabdomyolysis with kidney failure is granted. The Board also remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for kidney disability, BLE nerve disability, bilateral hip disability, heart disorder, SMC-AA/HB, and TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and kidney failure are granted service connection. The peripheral neuropathy of the upper right and lower extremities as well as the residuals of CVA are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate previous opinions, and a new medical opinion is needed regarding whether the Veteran's current kidney disorders are related to his service.

The appeal for service connection for Sjogren's Syndrome was dismissed due to withdrawal. The claims for skin, liver, bladder, esophageal, and kidney disabilities were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type 2, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2, and low kidney function as secondary to diabetes mellitus type 2.,There is no evidence that any in-service exposure to herbicide agents occurred.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for migraine disorder, service connection for kidney disorder, TDIU, and SMC based on housebound status are being remanded due to procedural errors in the initial decision.