Kidney disease decisions — 2022

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for benign scrotal cysts and bilateral kidney cysts, both of which were not found to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or a link to service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate and kidney cancers are remanded due to the need for further development regarding exposure to trichloroethylene and land-based operations in Korea.

The Veteran's death was due to cause of the Veteran's death, which is service-connected under the PACT Act. The prostate cancer that caused his death was presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Thailand.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney condition but granted entitlement to TDIU based on the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities.

The Veteran's vascular problems, kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and lower extremity cellulitis are not service-connected.,There is no evidence of hypertension or hypotension on active duty or within one year of separation from service. The sepsis that caused the Veteran's death was not related to his service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Additionally, an opinion on whether his hypertension, presumed due to service connection, caused or aggravated his fatal metastatic sarcomatoid RCC will be provided.

The Board has found that additional development is needed for the issues on appeal, including obtaining new VA opinions to address the conceded in-service radiation exposure and articles submitted by the appellant. The remanded issues are: Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Kidney Disability, Lung Disability, and Osteoarthritis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal failure due to Agent Orange exposure is remanded as the initial claim and intent to file are not in the record. The Board requires VA to associate these documents with the claims file.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed minor kidney damage, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence of a relationship to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and left ear hearing loss are granted as service-connected.,Service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, cataracts, neuropathy of the lower extremities, heart condition, hypertension, and kidney condition is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cancer is at least as likely as not related to his in-service herbicide agent exposure, specifically Agent Orange. As a result, service connection for renal cancer is granted.

The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus are granted due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection is denied for kidney condition, bilateral eye condition, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and hypertension, both potentially related to herbicide agent exposure. The AOJ is instructed to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents and secure any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the cases of hypertension and chronic kidney disease for further development, including obtaining medical opinions to address the Veteran's contentions regarding the onset and causation of these conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as 10 percent disabling. Service connection for chronic kidney disease due to hypertension has been granted. The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic kidney disease, and anemia have been denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for renal oncocytoma and right kidney removal residuals due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran. The VA will obtain an etiology opinion from a medical professional to determine if these conditions are related to service, including in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has dismissed the claims for service connection for kidney disorder, OSA, and CFS or other symptoms as an undiagnosed illness or MUCMI due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service.