Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected diabetes, which aggravated his chronic kidney disease. The Board granted the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded multiple service connection claims due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions, as well as the need to obtain outstanding VA treatment records. The Veteran's disabilities include musculoskeletal issues, hearing loss, psychiatric disorders, sleep apnea, lung conditions, headaches, heart condition, diabetes mellitus, kidney conditions, eye conditions, peripheral neuropathies, and erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claims for stomach pain, renal disorder (including kidney stones and chronic kidney disease), and right knee disability are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed the claims of service connection for diabetes type II (diabetes), kidney disease with hypertension, and metabolic syndrome as they are already granted in previous decisions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left kidney nephrectomy, hypertension (to include as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy), an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include adjustment disorder, depression, and anxiety) as secondary to left kidney nephrectomy, and erectile dysfunction have all been denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of gout and right leg clotting. The claim for reopening of a previously denied kidney condition is granted, but service connection for chronic kidney disease is not established due to lack of clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-service existence.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD disability and SMC at the housebound rate based on his other service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to link his current condition to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during active duty.

The Board granted service connection for a cardiac disability and hypertension, both presumed due to herbicide exposure. Service connection was denied for colon cancer, lung disability, spinal cancer tumor, stroke residuals, kidney disability, sleep apnea, deep vein thrombosis of the left lower extremity, neuropathy, and left leg disability (including cellulitis).

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's kidney disease, variants of cystic disease of the kidneys, due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on a finding that his current condition is more than 50% likely related to this exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney condition, specifically nephrotic syndrome, was reopened due to new and material evidence. The Board found that the pre-existing kidney disability existed before service but was aggravated during active duty. Therefore, direct service connection is granted.

The Veteran's thoracoabdominal aortic dissection with left common iliac aneurysm and its resulting complications have been granted compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1151.,Compensation has also been granted for various lower extremity disorders, including paraparesis and gait disorders, as well as a psychiatric disorder and renal condition.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, heart disability, respiratory disability, thyroid disability, paralyzed right diaphragm, left toe fungus, and right toe fungus were denied as they are not related to service.,There was no evidence of herbicide exposure or asbestos exposure in the Veteran's service records.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his right ankle sprain, kidney cancer, and lung cancer claims.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient consideration of the PACT Act's provisions and a need for a TERA examination.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's rating for genitourinary tuberculosis with interstitial cystitis from 100 to 40 percent was improper, and restored the original 100 percent rating. The effective date for service connection of unspecified depressive disorder with sleep-wake disorder is denied as there are no unadjudicated claims prior to December 31, 2014. SMC at the housebound rate has been granted since February 1, 2015. The Veteran's GERD and erectile dysfunction have not yet been evaluated by VA, and a TDIU rating is inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's kidney disease and his in-service exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disorder and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to the need for further medical opinions regarding the etiology of his conditions.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for further development and examination, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing medical opinions regarding the Veteran's end stage renal failure and degenerative arthritis of the cervical spine.

The Veteran's kidney stones are currently rated at 30 percent, the maximum schedular rating available. The Board found that there is no evidence of renal dysfunction, which would allow for a higher rating.