Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The appeals seeking service connection for ischemic heart disease, kidney condition, and tinnitus have been dismissed. The claim for service connection for hypertension as due to herbicide agent exposure has been granted. Service connection is also granted for PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his service exposure to herbicide agents, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's chronic renal disease and diabetic nephropathy have been granted a higher 80 percent rating.,Prior to June 18, 2018, the Veteran was granted TDIU based on his service-connected chronic renal disease.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the cause of death (myocardial infarction) is not related to his in-service back pain. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service is etiologically related to his current condition. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's left leg disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.,The Veteran's back disability is not related to service and did not manifest within one year of separation from service.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, liver disease (to include hepatitis B), gastrointestinal disorder (to include IBS and/or Crohn's disease), low back disability, left knee disability, right ankle disability, kidney disease, heart disease, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus are denied as there is no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for these conditions must be remanded to obtain VA examinations.

The Veteran's glomerulonephritis with congestive heart failure, incomplete right bundle branch block, anterior fascicular block and mitral, aortic, tricuspid and pulmonic regurgitation is rated at 100 percent effective July 18, 2022.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a ruptured disc was granted.,The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for a pinched nerve (back disorder) was granted.

The claim of entitlement to service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been granted by the agency of original jurisdiction. The claims for other conditions have been remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is likely due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his active duty service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability, originally claimed as minimal change disease, was denied in March and June 2015. The effective date of the grant of service connection is set at November 14, 2019.

The Veteran's attorney withdrew all claims of service connection for various conditions, including polysubstance dependence, bipolar disorder, PTSD, bilateral foot peripheral neuropathy, sleep apnea, and renal failure. The Board dismissed these claims as the Veteran had withdrawn them.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's condition had its onset in service due to significant in-service toxic exposures.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 30, 2018, for the grant of service connection for chronic kidney disease with hypertension has been denied. The Board also found that a remand is required due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error regarding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension is granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for low back disorder, kidney cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. The Veteran will be afforded VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current diagnoses.

The Veteran's appeal for a compensable disability rating prior to June 6, 2018, and in excess of 40 percent since February 20, 2019, for his service-connected bladder cancer has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before the Veteran's claims for service connection can be adjudicated. The claims are remanded due to incomplete medical records and inadequate opinions regarding the etiology of the claimed disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the Veteran's kidney disability and prostate disability claims, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing additional etiological opinions.