Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to deficiencies in a previous VA medical opinion.

The Board has determined that additional evidence has been added to the record and must be considered before a final decision can be made on the claims for service connection for various disabilities. The appeal is being remanded to allow for this review.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including left leg or knee disability, rectal bleeding, swollen hands and feet, rheumatoid arthritis, multi-site arthritis of the right shoulder, multi-site arthritis of the right hip, multi-site arthritis of the cervical spine (neck), multi-site arthritis of the lumbar spine (low back), right leg nerve damage, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, left kidney disability, gallbladder disability, sinusitis, headaches, appendix disability, discoloration and bacteria on the feet, erectile dysfunction, and eye disability or vision problems. The Board found no current disabilities for several conditions and concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient rationale in previous opinions. The Veteran's disabilities are related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II is granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand. The claims for rash/skin condition and chronic hepatitis with hiatal hernia and liver disease are dismissed as the appellant withdrew them at a hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's CKD is secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding new and material evidence. The issues of entitlement to service connection have been reopened, but further development is needed before a final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to the appellant's exposure to toxins at Fort McClellan, Alabama during her period of ACDUTRA. The VA will provide appropriate examinations and determine if there is a relationship between these conditions and the in-service exposures.

The Veteran's stepson, L.B., is recognized as a helpless child due to his cerebral palsy.,Service connection for left knee arthritis and swollen lips (claimed as hives) are granted based on in-service burn pit exposure.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inextricably intertwined issues and insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's kidney condition and right knee disability were denied service connection as they are not shown to be related to his military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.,A rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected right ankle disability was also denied.

The Board has found that additional development is needed to fully assist the Veteran with his claims, including obtaining relevant medical records and updating VA treatment records. The claims are remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied service connection for cataracts as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. It remanded the cases of hypertension and kidney disease related to service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's back disability, diagnosed as left flank/lower back pain, is granted service connection. The rating for his kidney disability remains at 10 percent and the scar associated with his kidney surgery is also rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which included acute myocardial infarction due to extensive ischemic heart disease and end-stage renal disease, is related to service exposure. The Board found reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant regarding the Veteran's exposure to dioxins and lead during service, leading to a finding of service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for kidney cancer, left lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus II, and right lower extremity neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus II have been reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted.,The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent.

The Veteran's dermatitis, hypertension (HTN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) have been granted service connection due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.,Service connection for tuberculosis (TB) has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disease, which he claims was caused by exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service, is related to this exposure. The decision grants service connection for kidney disease due to Camp Lejeune contamination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's in-service stomach complaints and the need for a new opinion from an appropriate examiner.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his renal disability, hypertension, and related disabilities. The issues are inextricably intertwined with the primary issue being remanded.