Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain medical records from a federal prison where the Veteran was incarcerated. The records are needed to determine if he had exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and if this contributed to his diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), sleep apnea (to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD), and kidney disability (to include as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability and depression has been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if there is new and material evidence, as well as to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of any pre-existing conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The kidney condition claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is found to be the result of in-service herbicide agent exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 13, 2009. The Board found that his education and work experience were sufficient to allow him to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to delays in scheduling VA examinations and lack of clear communication regarding these appointments. The Veteran is required to attend future scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities to manage his diabetes. As for TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran has met the schedular criteria but is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for Ischemic Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus type II, and a kidney disability have been granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for the kidney disability secondary to diabetes mellitus type II is remanded.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and entitlement to a TDIU, finding that there is no evidence of direct or presumptive service connection due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran was not found unemployable based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, and hypertension due to potential service connection issues. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it may be impacted by these other claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a respiratory disorder, back disorder, skin disorder, kidney disorder, abdominal aneurysm, glaucoma, and right eye disorder are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's right ankle disability is granted with a 20 percent rating, and service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder) is granted. The issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for nephrolithiasis remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment, as he is currently employed part-time and earns income above the poverty threshold for one person.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to inadequate VA opinions regarding service connection claims. The Veteran's sleep disorder and left kidney condition are still under review, as is his right nephrectomy rating and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a kidney disorder, including as secondary to service-connected prostate cancer, is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a lower back condition and kidney condition due to insufficient evidence. The lower back condition claim requires a VA examination, while the kidney condition claim needs further verification of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted service connection, while his claims for chloracne, porphyria cutanea tarda, bilateral hearing loss, soft tissue sarcoma, kidney cancer, and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy are all remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.