Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's rating for right kidney removal with left kidney cyst was reduced from 60 percent to 30 percent, effective September 1, 2021. The Board found the reduction improper and restored the prior 60 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for left lower extremity sciatic nerve disorder, chronic kidney disorder, and chronic pain syndrome due to duty-to-assist errors. The cases will be reviewed with a focus on whether these conditions are secondary to his service-connected back disability.

The Veteran's renal cell cancer and Barrett's esophagus have been granted service connection due to herbicide exposure during active duty.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) claim was denied as the Veteran failed to provide requested information.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral renal cell carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's cancer was caused by exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for a kidney disorder was received by VA on November 7, 2020. The effective date of the award is denied as it cannot be prior to this date.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, Parkinson's disease, diabetic nephropathy (claimed as kidney disease), diabetic retinopathy (claimed as vision loss), gallbladder removal, glaucoma, pancreatitis, bitemporal local epilepsy, and lewy body dementia have all been granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity sensory loss are remanded.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an adequate addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for kidney cancer, which was related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The Veteran is seeking an effective date prior to March 14, 2017.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney stones and cysts, finding that these conditions are the result of in-service chemical exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development, including obtaining clarification from a private physician and providing an opinion regarding whether hypertension is related to service or if any service-connected disability caused or aggravated the kidney disability.

The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease are granted as service-connected due to the PACT Act, which added hypertension to presumptive conditions associated with herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are granted for tinnitus and hypertension, but denied for a heart disability and kidney disability. The case is remanded to determine the appropriate effective date and to address the Veteran's claim for a kidney disability.

The Board has granted service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The issues of increased ratings for lumbar spine disability and right lower extremity sensory loss are remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected medication use at least as likely as not caused his death or contributed substantially to it. The Board granted service connection for the cause of death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete adjudication of claims for service connection and accrued benefits, as well as issues related to substitution of claimant. Additional development is needed to complete these matters.

The Veteran's hypertension and renal insufficiency claims are remanded due to the passage of time since his last VA examination. The sleep disorder claim is also remanded as the Veteran has not been examined for this condition in over seven years.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for PTSD is denied. His claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic undiagnosed multisystem illness (fibromyalgia), increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were reopened due to new and material evidence, but the appeals are still pending as some issues remain unresolved.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted under the PACT Act. The other service connection claims are remanded for further review.