Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's death was not due to his own willful misconduct, but he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as he had no service-connected disabilities and did not qualify as a former prisoner of war with at least one year of total disability prior to death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and chronic kidney/renal disease, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between these conditions and his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of kidney transplant surgery as secondary to hypertension, and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for a left heel spur prior to November 19, 2019, are all denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support service connection on any basis.

The Board has remanded both issues of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disorder and a parathyroid disorder due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease were not related to service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,Service connection for both conditions was denied due to lack of evidence showing onset or relationship during service.

The Board has found that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's cause of death was related to his service-connected malaria and/or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case is being remanded for an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's kidney stones are related to his military service, specifically his exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and the need for additional VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney condition.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis of the bilateral arms, gout of the bilateral feet, hypertension, prostate cancer with residuals, and kidney failure with end stage renal disease. The evidence does not establish a current disability in any of these conditions during the appellate period.

The Board has denied service connection for renal cancer and colon cancer, finding that the conditions are not related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted compensation benefits for chronic kidney disease and congestive heart failure, finding that the events were not reasonably foreseeable due to a lack of informed consent regarding potential risks.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disability due to inadequate prior medical opinions. The case is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension and kidney disease are denied as they are not etiologically related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's PTSD claim is granted with a rating of 70 percent prior to February 5, 2020.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that his kidney cancer did not have its onset during active service and is not otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient service records and VA treatment records, which may affect the determination of the cause of death.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis with chronic kidney disease/renal failure has not resulted in severe renal dysfunction that required persistent edema and albuminuria with blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 40 to 80 mg%; or creatinine 4 to 8 mg%; or generalized poor health characterized by lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, or limitation of exertion. Therefore, a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease and clear cell renal carcinoma are not service-connected, with the exception of IBS and IBD which remain under review.,Service connection for a bowel disorder (IBS and IBD) is remanded to determine their relationship to service or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal of a higher evaluation for renal insufficiency with hypertension prior to August 15, 2017 has been dismissed as the Veteran requested to withdraw the issue.

The Board has dismissed all claims due to the death of the appellant, as it does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these appeals.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as his condition did not require regulation of activities. The claim for TDIU was also denied due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities and his ability to perform substantially gainful employment.