Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service connection claims for DM2 and CAD are granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand, which is sufficient to grant service connection for his peripheral neuropathy conditions and kidney disorder as secondary to his now-service-connected DM2.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was dismissed. The Board granted an initial separate rating of 80 percent for chronic renal insufficiency prior to May 26, 2022 and a 100 percent rating from that date onward.

The Veteran's partial left kidney nephrectomy was the result of VA's failure to timely diagnose and properly treat a fistula formed after his left kidney biopsy. The Board has granted compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for kidney damage.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ischemic cardiomyopathy, type II diabetes mellitus, and end-stage renal disease. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for macular degeneration, cataracts, and kidney disorder are remanded due to insufficient development of evidence regarding in-service exposure and medical opinions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is rated at a 30 percent disability rating from September 27, 2014 onwards. The Board also granted SMC at the housebound rate for the period starting on September 12, 2019.

The Board has decided the appeal is remanded to obtain a new secondary service connection opinion regarding the Veteran's claim for chronic kidney disease, which is claimed as being related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding service connection for the cause of death and aggravation of service-connected conditions. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is now presumed under a new law.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as respiratory arrest due to chronic renal disease. The Board found that the service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse did not contribute substantially and materially to his death, nor was it a principal or contributory cause of death.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and diabetes mellitus, type II are granted service connection due to exposure to toxic chemicals at Fort McClellan. The cases for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities as well as SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ are remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for hepatitis C and remanded the issue of service connection for a kidney condition. The Veteran's claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for HTN, a heart disability (CAD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD) of the bilateral lower extremities, kidney disability, and PTSD due to potential medical issues and need for further examination.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for chronic renal disease with hypertension was granted. The disability is rated at 60 percent, effective March 31, 2014.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to the need for VA examinations.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is found to be related to herbicide exposure during service, and thus granted as secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and its relationship to service-connected conditions, particularly hypertension and PTSD with major depression.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition.,The appellant's claim for accrued benefits submitted more than one year after the Veteran's death is untimely.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, gout of the bilateral feet, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and cardiovascular disability. The appeal is not about herbicide exposure or Agent Orange.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic kidney disease, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the January 2017 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic kidney disease has been withdrawn and dismissed due to the appellant requesting its withdrawal.