Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than August 26, 2016, for left forearm supination impairment and left elbow tendonitis have been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for Epstein-Barr syndrome has been granted and readjudicated.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, residuals of adrenal cancer, and coronary artery disease with myopathy status post coronary artery bypass graft. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to environmental hazards that included jet fuel, Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF), and Trichlorofluoromethane.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the right upper extremity, diabetes mellitus with erectile dysfunction, diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the left lower and right lower extremity, diabetic peripheral neuropathy with carpal tunnel syndrome in the left upper extremity, and coronary artery disease (CAD), have rendered him unable to secure or maintain gainful employment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease, liver disorder, and hyponatremia as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of VA medical opinions regarding whether the appellant's heart disabilities are related to his service-connected hypertension. The appellant is seeking service connection for these conditions, with aggravation as the theory.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and granted for bilateral ankle, knee, and OSA disabilities. Service connection has also been granted for left ear hearing loss but denied for right ear hearing loss.,Remaining issues of service connection are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been presented, specifically regarding a kidney disability. The issues of throat pain and difficulty breathing are also being remanded.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a right scrotal mass, kidney stones, polysubstance abuse, liver disability, and adrenal gland disability due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for renal dysfunction, effective August 1, 2019, is denied.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for renal dysfunction, effective November 5, 2020, is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer, melanoma of the right cheek, and melanoma of the left forearm due to exposure to herbicide agents. The VA will obtain additional opinions regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disorder and kidney disorder, finding that there is no current diagnosis of these conditions and insufficient evidence to establish a link between them and his military service.

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 is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension, renal failure, cervical cancer, and special monthly compensation due to in-service onset or aggravation of these conditions. Additional development is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is granted. His 10% rating for allergic rhinitis is restored, and his claims for other conditions are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a renal disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not received. The Veteran had no current diagnosis of a chronic renal condition during or after military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, kidney disability, skin condition, right hand tremors, left hand disability, right knee condition, left knee condition, right ankle condition, left ankle condition, lower bilateral gout, and sleep apnea are not related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right knee, left knee, and left ankle disabilities to include osteoarthritis. The kidney disability claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected renal cell carcinoma. The initial rating for right renal cell carcinoma and associated scarring are remanded, as well as the issue of service connection for a heart disorder related to renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the issue remains remanded as there is a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's herbicide agent exposure caused his death.

The Veteran's kidney failure and hypertension are granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD with substance abuse and symptoms of depressive disorder.,For the entire period on appeal, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD with substance abuse and symptoms of depressive disorder.