Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's lung cancer and kidney cancer claims were reopened due to new evidence submitted.,Service connection for renal cell carcinoma is granted based on herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that his condition is not related to active service or any incident of service, including as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and whether it is related to his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and its relation to service, specifically renal failure.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has found that a higher rating is not warranted.,Service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, respiratory disability, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiological disability (coronary artery disease), kidney disability (chronic kidney disease), bilateral eye disability, and stomach disability (GERD). The claims are being remanded to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents at Fort Polk.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of a kidney infection is granted. The initial rating for lumbar spine disability remains at 20 percent, and the ratings for right and left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathies are also maintained.

The Veteran's death was not due to his service-connected degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with associated radiculopathy.,The cause of the Veteran's death (chronic respiratory failure, acute on chronic diastolic heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and cirrhosis) is not considered to be related to his active service.

The Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for kidney disability has been dismissed as he withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has reopened the previously denied claims for service connection for a left knee disability, kidney dysfunction, and loss of upper front teeth. The Veteran's statements in his notice of disagreement indicate that he experienced injuries to these conditions during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for kidney cancer, including a lack of documentation of participation in a radiation-risk activity. The Veteran's service records show multiple incidents of blood in urine during active duty, which may support direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical records and the need for a thorough evaluation to determine if service-connected conditions contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease (CKD) as secondary to hypertension, but denied service connection for a heart disability claimed as pericarditis, also secondary to hypertension.

Service connection is granted for urinary incontinence as secondary to service-connected lumbar spine degenerative arthritis.,Service connection is granted for chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to service-connected COPD with obstructive sleep apnea.,The Veteran's pleuritic chest pain claim remains pending and requires further examination and opinion.,The heart condition claim, including coronary artery disease and hypertensive heart disease, is remanded due to the inextricably intertwined nature of the issues. A new opinion is needed regarding whether the heart condition is directly related to service.,Gastrointestinal disorder (including gastric ulcers and gastroenteritis but excluding IBS and GERD) claim remains pending and requires further examination and opinion.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney disability, including kidney stones, nephrosclerosis, and renal cysts. The matter must be further examined and an opinion provided on whether these disabilities are related to service-connected conditions or environmental exposures.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for various disorders, including heart disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, kidney disorder, male reproductive organ disorder, and artery and vein disorder of all extremities. The claims are remanded due to the VA's failure to conduct additional follow-up on a previous request for records regarding herbicide/pesticide exposure during service.

The Veteran's request to reopen a previously denied claim for service connection for a kidney disability is granted. Service connection for tinnitus is denied, and the issue of service connection for end-stage kidney disease is remanded.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension have been granted service connection on an accrued basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.,The Veteran's chronic kidney disease has also been granted service connection on an accrued basis as secondary to his diabetes mellitus, type II.

The appeal for service connection of kidney disease is dismissed. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for major depressive disorder are denied, but the Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating for his major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claim for a separate disability rating for urinary incontinence as a neurological complication of lumbar degenerative joint disease and degenerative disc disease is granted on and after January 13, 2016. The claims for TDIU, excess ratings for various knee conditions, right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, cervical spine disability, and kidney stones are all remanded.