Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The appeal for service connection and rating increases for various conditions, including erectile dysfunction, type II diabetes, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and PTSD, is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD remains pending.

The Veteran's appeals seeking to reopen claims of service connection for low testosterone, kidney disability, and acid reflux have been dismissed.,The Veteran's appeals seeking service connection for a psychiatric disorder (stress disorder) and liver disability (fatty liver disease) with new and material evidence have been granted.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound is remanded due to the lack of a recent VA examination addressing his ability to care for himself.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) as his combined schedular rating of 100% rendered the TDIU appeal moot. The Board also dismissed other issues related to increased ratings for PTSD, Crohn's Disease, and associated conditions.

The Veteran's kidney stones are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if they are related to his service-connected bilateral knee disability and any medication he takes for it.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection. The bilateral retinopathy is secondary to the hypertension, chronic kidney disease with end stage renal disease is secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II, and dermatitis and eczema are presumed due to service.,Left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity, and right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy have been denied as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a genitourinary disorder, including kidney stones, and PTSD is remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions. The issues of secondary service connection are addressed.

The Board has remanded the claims for cataracts, kidney condition, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran's service connection claims are being returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations. The issues include hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of various extremities, kidney condition, valvular heart disease, erectile dysfunction, cataracts, diabetes mellitus, GERD, stomach condition, asbestosis, ankle conditions, back disability, knee conditions, arthritis, right hip condition, and left hip condition.

The Veteran's right nephrectomy due to a benign tumor and stomach condition, gastrointestinal stromal tumor are being remanded for further examination as the conditions may be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's kidney disease claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical records from his hospitalizations. Other service connection claims are being processed under the modernized review system.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney disorder, bilateral hearing loss, bilateral eye disorder, and prostate cancer due to incomplete information from VA Forms 21-4142 submitted by the appellant.

The Board has found that the RO did not complete all directed development and returned the matter to the RO for further action. The Veteran's service records, including his MOS and locations of service, need to be verified, as well as VA examinations and opinions regarding his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for pulmonary nodules and kidney stones have been dismissed. The claims of service connection for neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the right and left lower extremities, PVD of the right and left lower extremities, PTSD, and OSA are all granted on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, tinnitus, diabetes mellitus type II, kidney disorder, eye disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 7, 2017 for the grant of service connection for residuals of kidney cancer has been denied. The case is also remanded for a new VA examination to determine appropriate initial rating for kidney cancer residuals.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, but remanded several other issues related to the Veteran's health conditions.

The Veteran's appeal to restore the rating for sinusitis is dismissed. The appeal to reopen his claim for service connection for a chronic kidney condition is granted, and the claims for coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.,The Veteran's CKD is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II, and/or hypertension. ,The Veteran's ED is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's BLE peripheral neuropathy is caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.