Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus, but denied service connection for bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities. Service connection was also granted for erectile dysfunction and renal dysfunction as secondary to bladder cancer, and prostate cancer as a result of bladder cancer.,The Veteran's prostate cancer is considered secondary to his service-connected bladder cancer.

Service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The issues of service connection for renal cancer and lung cancer (secondary to renal cancer) are remanded.

The Board has referred the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney disorder, and cardiovascular disorder as secondary to hepatitis B and C with early stage cirrhosis back to the AOJ. The Court granted a JMPR that vacated the July 2021 decision and remanded these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to lack of proper investigation into the Veteran's claimed nautical service in Vietnam, which could have provided herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the loss of use of both lower extremities, requiring him to rely on assistive devices for mobility. The Board has granted financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his permanent and total service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart arrhythmia, COPD, kidney condition, and hysterectomy residuals due to exposure to chemicals while stationed at Ft. McClellan, as there was not substantial compliance with its February 2021 remand directives.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for all issues related to colitis, kidney stones, right hip pain, diverticulitis, ADHD (also claimed as organic brain syndrome), and gastritis and duodenitis.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for kidney stones and chronic kidney disease due to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange) because the VA examiner's opinion is insufficient. The Veteran must provide authorization for additional treatment records, especially from his nephrologist, to be considered in deciding this appeal.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, status post partial right nephrectomy, is related to his service, including due to conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the issue of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The issues of PTSD, TDIU rating, and substitution eligibility are not before the Board at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's kidney disorder is related to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam. The VA needs to obtain an addendum medical opinion from a specialist to address this issue.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his military service, including in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus has been granted service connection.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease and bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the Board is remanding for further examination regarding whether his death could be related to Agent Orange exposure or other disabilities.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no clear evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected kidney cancer metastasized to his pancreas and caused his death.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, including kidney failure, neurobehavioral effects, and a skin condition. The VA will be asked to obtain any VA treatment records from an Alabama facility where the Veteran may have received care after his discharge in 1960.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and development of records.

The Board has remanded the claims due to the Veteran's non-attendance of VA examinations, and new examinations are required to determine the etiologies of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's kidney disease is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The reduction of the 20 percent rating for service-connected bilateral hearing loss was proper, but restoration of the rating is denied.,The reduction of the 40 percent rating for service-connected prostate cancer with voiding dysfunction was proper, but restoration of the rating is denied.

The Veteran's kidney disability, which was previously rated at 100% following a June 2013 transplant, is now denied an increased rating to over 30%. The evidence does not meet the criteria for higher ratings under either the old or new VA rating criteria.