Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to obtain and/or maintain substantially gainful employment, qualifying for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to accrued benefits. He was also found not in need of aid and attendance or housebound status for SMC purposes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for GERD and renal stones are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,An effective date prior to July 28, 2004, for the grant of entitlement to service connection for a left nephrectomy is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for her kidney disability, right knee disability, and thyroid disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's central nervous system lymphoma, neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas (to include pancreas removal), and renal cell cancer are all granted service connection due to exposure to radiation and toxins during active service.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is also granted based on evidence showing a current disability with manifestations sufficient to identify the disease entity.

The Veteran's PTSD warrants a rating of 70 percent.,The Veteran's endometriosis does not warrant a compensable rating.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's Morton's neuroma is remanded for further examination and opinion.,The Veteran's stage 3 kidney disease is remanded to determine its relationship to her prescribed medication.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) has been granted a 30 percent initial rating, effective December 6, 2011.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including CAD, DM, chronic kidney failure, COPD, and PTSD, finding that there was not sufficient evidence to establish a link between these conditions and his active-duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to new evidence added after the May 2019 statement of the case and a need for clarification on the etiology of the Veteran's kidney condition, including membranous glomerulopathy and/or glomerulonephritis with proteinuria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus has been reopened, and the issue of entitlement to a compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae, scar, right middle finger, third digit, residuals of left stab wounds to the thigh and buttock/ tender scar with limitation of flexion and pain on motion, rhinitis, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus type II (secondary to high blood pressure), retinopathy, hernia disability, chronic kidney disease (claimed as renal failure), arthritis of the right hand (variously claimed as arthritis of multiple joints), and testicular disability/ epididymitis is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to asbestos and chemical agents during service, as well as secondary service connection for liver failure and neurological conditions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted effective November 4, 2016, due to the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities preventing him from obtaining and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's kidney cancer and his military service, including exposure to non-ionizing radiation. The Veteran will need a VA examination to determine if there is a link between his condition and his service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the disability rating and effective date for his service-connected chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The cervical spine, lumbar spine, right hip, left hip, and kidney disabilities are remanded for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's residuals of kidney cancer, status post-nephrectomy, based on his in-service exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE).

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for sinusitis is denied. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with sinusitis during the pendency of the claim or approximate thereto and he is in receipt of service connection for rhinitis.,The claims for renal cell carcinoma of the bilateral kidneys and diabetes mellitus type II are remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding their relationship to service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's chronic renal disease and nephritis have been granted service connection.,Service connection for anemia has been remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his diabetes, which in turn contributed to his death. The VA must obtain additional medical records and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's type II diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development of evidence regarding the cause of death and its relation to service connection for exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran died from acute myeloid leukemia with a contributing cause of end stage renal failure.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any service-connected condition to his death.