Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete development of his military exposure and treatment records. The issues include hypertension, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and bilateral peripheral vascular disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for kidney disability, prostate condition, meningioma of the brain (claimed as brain cancer, brain infection, brain damage), anemia, right foot disability, left foot disability, skull deformity, erectile dysfunction, and penis deformity due to Agent Orange exposure and/or Camp Lejeune contaminated water.

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney disorder and remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremity, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremity, and erectile dysfunction.

The Board has remanded the claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to conflicting medical evidence and a need for further development regarding the etiology of the Veteran's congestive heart failure, anca vasculitis, kidney failure, metabolic acidosis, and diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has remanded the claims for hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, liver condition (claimed as cirrhosis and liver cancer), and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as bipolar disorder and depression) due to insufficient evidence addressing service connection.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for various conditions due to outstanding treatment records from his time in Germany. The AOJ must obtain these records and provide an explanation if they cannot be obtained.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed sleep disorder, kidney condition, and hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension, kidney cancer, heart disorder (coronary atherosclerosis, heart attack, coronary artery disease), peripheral artery disease, acquired psychiatric disorder (chemo brain), retinopathy, penile condition, and lung disorder have been granted service connection. The effective date for these grants is October 13, 2015.

The Veteran did not have an additional disability that was caused by VA medical treatment for acute kidney failure from June 19, 2017, to June 21, 2017.

The Veteran's right knee osteoarthritis is related to his service, and the Board has granted entitlement to service connection for this condition. The issues of kidney disease (secondary to hypertension) and spinal stenosis are remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his depressive disorder and hypertension with renal kidney cancer, have led to a combined rating of 80 percent. However, the Board found insufficient evidence to support a TDIU due to the Veteran's failure to cooperate in providing necessary information.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his Vietnam-era service, effective August 10, 2022.,Service connection for a renal disability secondary to hypertension is also granted. The Veteran was found to have hypertension prior to the enactment of the PACT Act.

The Board has remanded the cases due to incomplete development regarding the Veteran's exposure to radiation from Pershing II missiles, which could affect all issues on appeal.

The Veteran's renal failure with hypertension is rated at 100% effective November 14, 2021. The condition became eligible for a kidney transplant in April 2017 but no matches were available due to previous bone marrow transplant.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus and kidney condition due to inconsistencies in the medical records and the need for further clarification on whether the Veteran had a current diagnosis of diabetes during the appeal period.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical records and the need to obtain additional information from private healthcare providers. The Veteran served at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal on all issues related to tinnitus, diabetes mellitus, thyroid disability, and renal disability before the Board could make a decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a renal neoplasm, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his in-service exposure to herbicide agents and his current condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including heart disorder, kidney transplant and residuals thereof, neck artery disability, leg bypass surgery and residuals thereof, left leg to right leg artery transplant and residuals thereof, and frostbite of hands and feet. The Veteran's service records are unavailable due to a fire, but VA must assist in the development of his claim.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for abdominal injury, tuberculosis, spots on the lungs, and kidney disorder. The remaining issues of cervical spine DDD, right shoulder neuritis, pelvis fracture residuals, right leg disorder, left leg disorder, right hip disorder, and left hip disorder were denied.