Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for lumbar spine disorder, heart disorder, and renal insufficiency due to inadequate development of evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal failure and increased rating for prostate cancer residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations. The kidney disability issue also requires further examination.

The Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorders are presumed to have pre-existed service, and the Board finds that they were not aggravated by service.,The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder (GI), lung disorder, and liver disorder are not currently shown to be related to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for peripheral vascular disease and kidney dysfunction due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents, as well as their relationship to service-connected coronary heart disease (CAD) and/or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The AOJ is instructed to obtain additional medical opinions that address Dr. Shoag's opinion regarding the link between these conditions.

The Board is unable to make a decision on the service connection claims for bilateral hand disability, bilateral shoulder disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, and headache disability as no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding their onset during service or relation to service.

The Veteran's kidney disability is not shown to be related to service or a service-connected condition, and the Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a heart disorder and kidney disorder due to inadequate opinions in the previous VA examinations. The Veteran's atrial fibrillation is being evaluated as secondary to diabetes mellitus type II, and the kidney disorder needs clarification regarding its relationship to diabetes mellitus.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and TDIU due to inadequate VA examinations in previous remands, which did not address all of the Veteran's contentions regarding carelessness or negligence by VA personnel.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is granted service connection due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection for a dental disorder and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depression and anxiety) as secondary to service-connected disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that J.D., the Veteran's son, is permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 due to his mental and physical conditions. The decision grants recognition of J.D. as a helpless child of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and sleep disorder due to incomplete development.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer and denied service connection for a low back disability. The kidney cancer is found to be at least as likely as not related to in-service environmental exposures, while the low back disability is determined to have no direct relationship to service or service-connected knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for CAD, DM, hypertension, and genitourinary disorder(s) due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Additional evidence is needed, including records from specific dates uploaded into VistA Imaging.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the right shoulder, and a left knee disability. All other claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's kidney disability, including a lack of updated laboratory testing and an inadequate VA examination. The Veteran is asked to undergo further medical evaluation to determine if he currently has a diagnosed kidney condition and whether his symptoms are related to service or any other conditions.

The Board has remanded the cases of service connection for kidney disorder and genitourinary disorder (prostate disorder) due to insufficient development or examination.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 100 percent for major depressive disorder and has remanded the issue of a compensable rating for polycystic kidney disease.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his death and there was no evidence linking his death to his military service or any service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for prostate disorder and kidney cancer due to herbicide exposure, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.