Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not limit or prevent participation in the avocational interests of exercise, photography, and music. The Board denied the request for VR&E benefits to purchase a music keyboard, stationary and electric bicycles, and camera as part of his avocational activities.

The Board denied service connection for both hypertension and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as secondary to hypertension. The decision found that the evidence did not support a link between the conditions and service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, coronary artery disease, hypertension, and kidney disabilities. The claims are remanded due to the need for further development including VA examinations.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to insufficient evidence showing that VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill caused his renal failure.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service connection claims, including diabetes mellitus, neuritis, kidney disorder (claimed as diabetic nephropathy), and diabetic retinopathy. Additional development is required for these claims.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for hemorrhoids was denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain with intervertebral disc syndrome and degenerative disc disease of the thoracic spine is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding functional loss during flare-ups or after repetitive use over time.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of an evaluation from a VA oncologist regarding the relationship between the Veteran's kidney cancer and his service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claims of increased rating and earlier effective date for tinnitus have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeals.,The Veteran's claims of service connection for hyperlipidemia, kidney disability, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, bilateral upper extremity neuropathy, gout, eye disability (cataracts), and hypertension are all denied.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for renal insufficiency, heart condition, and lumbar spine condition due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for a right kidney disorder. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records from Tampa VAMC and requesting authorization for private care providers' records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for adrenal sarcoma, malignant melanoma of the chest, and malignant melanoma metastasized to left lung have been granted due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service at Fort Gordon.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in weighing medical opinions and addressing the Veteran's contentions.

The Board has remanded the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's helpless child for purposes of entitlement to VA survivor's benefits due to incomplete records submitted by the appellant. The appellant is required to submit complete copies of all relevant school and medical records from specified sources.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims for service connection for supraventricular arrhythmia/atriial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and bladder cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and kidney/renal disease as secondary to hypertension, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service separation.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 is remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA medical opinion, and additional evidence may be needed to determine if there was a delay in treatment that led to additional disability.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 is remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the relationship between his MRSA infection and subsequent disabilities, including L3/L4 osteomyelitis, epigastrium MRSA infection, hernias, and chronic kidney disease.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's exposure to jet fuel caused his chronic renal insufficiency, which contributed to his death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The appeal seeking an initial rating in excess of 60 percent for chronic kidney disease (CKD) from June 27, 1966 to May 25, 2010 is dismissed. An effective date prior to June 27, 1966 for the grant of service connection for CKD is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertension is found to have caused or aggravated his diagnosed chronic kidney disease, including hypertensive nephropathy and nephrosclerosis.