Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has granted service connection for a back disorder, kidney disorder (hematuria), and head disorder (vertigo) due to in-service injuries. The evidence supports the Veteran's claims that these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type 2 is presumed due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange). The Board granted service connection for the other conditions as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and kidney disorder secondary to hypertension due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology. The examiner is requested to provide an opinion on whether the Veteran's hypertension was incurred in service, if it caused or aggravated his kidney disorder, and if illicit drug use proximately resulted in his disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for polycystic kidney disease was dismissed because the appellant withdrew her Legacy appeal and opted into the modernized review system under the Appeals Modernization Act.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of his claims, including service connection for diabetes mellitus and bilateral cataracts due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's skin cancer is denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or a relationship to in-service events.,Service connection for the right adrenal adenoma is granted based on it being a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness (MUCMI).

The Board has granted service connection for metastatic renal cell carcinoma on a substitution basis, finding that the Veteran's cancer was related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during his service in Korea. The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for carcinoma of the appendix and kidney disorder due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to exposure to herbicide agents or contaminated water at Camp LeJeune. The Veteran's claims were remanded, but no new evidence was provided that would support a finding in favor of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and service connection for hypertension. The examiner is asked to provide opinions on whether the Veteran's renal cancer, heart disease (presumed ischemic), and hypertension are related to his military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected renal cancer, right kidney s/p nephrectomy was denied as there were no symptoms or reoccurrence of the cancer prior to November 25, 2014. The Veteran's scars associated with the surgeries are rated at a 10% since May 31, 2013.

The appeals for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for sarcoidosis, sickle cell anemia, bilateral hearing loss, vision disability, flat feet, acquired psychiatric disability, insomnia, heart disability, hepatitis C, and kidney disability is granted with effective dates ranging from November 25, 2013 to the date of grant. The Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for erectile dysfunction is granted. The claims for renal dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the left and right lower extremities, and hypertensive heart disease are remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hepatitis, non-A non-B; right pyelonephritis (kidney condition); an acquired mental disorder (anxiety and major depressive disorder); an ectopic pregnancy and its residuals; and hyperthyroidism due to unclear etiology and need for further development.

Service connection is granted for residuals of prostate cancer and heart condition (including an old inferior myocardial infarction).,The Veteran's kidney cancer claim is remanded as additional medical records are needed to determine the relationship between his service-connected conditions and his current health issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions in previous VA examination reports and needs a new examination to determine if the Veteran's kidney disorder is related to service, or if it is caused by his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a link to active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, insomnia, and renal failure (claimed as kidney disease) have been withdrawn by the appellant. The Board has dismissed these issues.