Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has denied service connection for polycystic kidney disease due to the natural progression of a congenital condition. The gout claim is remanded for further evaluation.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for service-connected polycystic kidney disease, finding that the evidence did not show any renal insufficiency or albumin noted as constant or recurring with hyaline and granular casts or red blood cells. The Veteran's blood pressure readings were also negative for supporting a higher evaluation.

Service connection for asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for cause of death due to asbestosis is granted.,Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to asbestos exposure is remanded.,Service connection for diabetes due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for kidney failure due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for heart condition is remanded.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss is denied as the evidence does not support a finding that it is related to his service-connected conditions or exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for diabetes mellitus type II (DM) is denied as the evidence does not show that he requires regulation of activities beyond what is already contemplated in the current 20% rating.

The Veteran's request to reopen the issue of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disability as secondary to hypertension is granted. The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining new VA opinions and treatment records.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, and chronic renal failure. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to military service.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100 percent rating for squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs status post right lower lobe lobectomy, and has remanded to determine service connection for residuals of lung cancer.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's right kidney disability, including whether it is related to service or his service-connected schizophrenia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding insufficient evidence to substantiate a reasonable possibility that he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities. The Board acknowledged some physical limitations but did not find them severe enough to preclude employment.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to the Veteran's death or contributing substantially to it. The conditions listed on his death certificate were not associated with exposure to contaminants at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has denied service connection for diabetes, coronary artery disease, renal disability, lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, lower extremity peripheral arterial disease, and upper extremity diabetic neuropathy as the evidence does not support a finding of actual exposure to herbicide agents during service or that these conditions began during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to insufficient compliance with prior remand directives. The Veteran's hypertension may be secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart disease, but a medical opinion is needed to address this theory of entitlement. For chronic kidney disease, there was no VA medical opinion addressing whether it is related to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran's claims of service connection for benign neoplasms of the genitourinary system, including renal cysts and epididymal cysts. The remand is due to incomplete opinions from a VA examiner regarding potential exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Board has remanded the cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and kidney cancer for additional development due to incomplete or inaccurate factual premises in previous opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with its previous remand directives. The Veteran's claims for cervical spine disability, cystitis, and kidney disability are being reviewed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his renal cancer and his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and medical opinions regarding the Veteran's thyroid cancer and kidney cancer, as well as their relationship to service. The DIC claim is dismissed as moot due to the grant of service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that the evidence did not support a nexus between these conditions and active service.