Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertensive heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right duplex kidney disability was aggravated by service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, neck disability, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, renal disease with hypertension, and posttraumatic stress disorder, have caused him to be unemployable prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further consideration by VA's Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the relationship of the Veteran's causes of death to his service, including foreign service in Germany.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to pancreatic cancer, which is service-connected. His skin cancers and renal cell carcinoma also contributed substantially to his death. The Board granted burial benefits as the Veteran's death was service-connected.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to and had its onset in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as end stage kidney disease and squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to bones. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service, and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he did not meet the required criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development regarding his potential exposure to hazardous materials during service, particularly AFFF and asbestos.

The appeals seeking service connection for lung condition, esophageal condition, ED, lymphoma, renal toxicity, cataracts, bladder condition, and NHL have been dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the requests to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot arthritis, a right leg disorder, a skin disorder, a sleep disorder, and a low back disorder are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is denied as compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 because the injury was not caused by VA negligence or fault, despite receiving Vancomycin treatment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to July 6, 2015, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for a 100 percent rating for ankylosing spondylitis of the lumbar spine is granted. The claim for SMC at the (s) rate is also granted, as the Veteran meets the criteria under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s). The issue of entitlement to a TDIU is dismissed as moot due to the Veteran's receipt of both a 100 percent disability rating and SMC.

The Veteran's claim to reopen the service connection for kidney rhabdomyolysis was denied due to lack of new and material evidence.,For his generalized anxiety disorder, a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to March 8, 2017 was denied. However, since then, he has been granted a 70 percent rating.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the claims of service connection for residuals of a head injury, kidney disorder, left knee disorder, and right knee disorder must be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset or causation during military service.

The Veteran's claims for hypertension, cardiovascular conditions, and left ear hearing loss have been granted. The remaining issues of service connection for headaches, back condition, prostate condition, bladder condition, kidney condition, hepatitis, and nicotine dependence are dismissed as the appeal is not about service connection at all.,The Veteran's claim for a back condition has been remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for right atrophic kidney with mid ureteral stricture was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for cancer, Hodgkin's Disease is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination to support his claim.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination to support his claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded as he has not been afforded a VA examination to support his claim.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection is remanded due to procedural deficiencies and the need for additional medical opinions.