Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence for determining the nature and etiology of the Veteran's kidney condition and sleep apnea.

The Board dismissed the claims of right upper extremity numbness, diabetes mellitus, type II, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss for accrued benefits purposes.,Service connection was granted for kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) due to radiation exposure during service.

The Board has granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Veteran's secondary claims for pneumonia, coronary artery disease, end stage renal disease, residuals of a bone marrow transplant, immune deficiency disorder, and chronic infections are remanded as the VA is required to obtain medical opinions regarding their relationship to his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and kidney disability were not incurred in service or related to any in-service injury.,The cause of the Veteran's death was attributed to his coronary artery disease.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam is not a factor and that his condition was related to military service.

The Board has denied service connection for soft tissue sarcoma, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The case is remanded for further examination regarding the Veteran's kidney cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for a kidney disability and a right shoulder disability, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the cases for a new opinion regarding whether the Veteran's renal cancer is related to his military service, including as due to presumed exposure to an herbicide agent (Agent Orange).

The Board has found that there are outstanding VA medical records for hearing loss and new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding in-service herbicide agent exposure. The claims are remanded to acquire these records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during active service.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for nephrectomy secondary to renal cell carcinoma has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to proceed with this matter.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to the possibility of worsening since his last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II as due to herbicide agent exposure is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is remanded due to the possibility that the condition has worsened since the last VA examination in July 2016.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a cervical spine disorder is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder is remanded due to the possibility that there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee scar is remanded because there may be new evidence indicating exposure within the territorial waters of Guam or the Republic of Vietnam during his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for presbyopia is denied as refractive errors are not considered diseases or injuries under VA regulations.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for further readjudication, including determining whether hypertension could serve as an intermediate step between the Veteran's service and his renal cell cancer.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal issues and renal failure due to potential service connection issues. The Veteran is seeking service connection for his gastrointestinal condition, which he contends was aggravated by service, and for his renal failure, which he believes was caused by his gastrointestinal condition.

The Board has granted service connection for tremors, gout, kidney stones and cyst, and hypothyroidism status post thyroidectomy, all of which are found to be related to herbicide exposure during service.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and kidney disease, both claimed to be related to asbestos exposure during military service.,There is no evidence that the Veteran's conditions began in or were aggravated by his active duty service.

The Board has determined that renal insufficiency is due to a cardiovascular disorder associated with hypertension, which is already service-connected. Therefore, the claim for secondary service connection for renal insufficiency is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, due to herbicide exposure during his Vietnam service, has been granted. The claims for other conditions have been reopened and are being remanded.

The Board has denied service connection for abdominal aneurysm, bilateral kidney disorder, and bilateral glaucoma due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to military service. The right eye disorder is also denied as the separation in time between herbicide exposure and diagnosis makes it less likely caused by such exposure.