Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's requests to reopen claims for kidney and back conditions were denied. The Board found no current disability or evidence of a nexus between service and the claimed conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's appeals for service connection of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, arthritis of the left shoulder, arthritis of the back, right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, kidney condition, bladder condition, testicle condition, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy. The evidence received since the June 2014 rating decision is not new and material.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including kidney disorder, migraine headaches, depression, and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (low back pain), have been remanded due to the need for further development.,Service connection has been granted for migraine headaches.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disorder, gout of upper extremities, and gout of lower extremities. The decision is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected conditions contributed to it. The Veteran's death was caused by respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, and renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and unclear diagnoses. The Veteran's claims will be reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's presumed exposure to Agent Orange contributed to his death. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding exposure to toxins and environmental hazards while stationed at Fort McClellan, Alabama.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic kidney disease stage IV with nephrolithiasis and hypertension is granted an effective date of September 16, 2014 for a 80 percent evaluation. The appeal is denied for evaluations in excess of the assigned ratings.

The Board has remanded the claims for rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, osteoporosis, a kidney condition (to include kidney stones), gastrointestinal condition, pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and diabetes mellitus type 2 as they are inextricably intertwined with the issue of service connection for rheumatoid arthritis.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran, which may affect his claim for service connection for kidney stones as secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's kidney cysts were denied service connection, left hip strain and deviated septum were granted, and the claims for sleep apnea and heart disability are being remanded.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and kidney disability (pyelonephritis) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded the cases due to unsuccessful attempts to schedule VA examinations for the Veteran's claimed conditions. The RO is instructed to make a final attempt to schedule these exams and provide opinions on the nature and likely cause of any psychiatric and kidney disabilities.

The Board has denied service connection for kidney cancer residuals and remanded the claim of service connection for enlarged prostate (BPH). The decision on kidney cancer residuals is due to a lack of evidence linking it to service or any service-connected disability. The BPH issue requires further examination by a urologist.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of death. The examiner is required to provide an opinion on whether any disability that caused or contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death had its clinical onset in service, including his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board found that the appellant's appeal was untimely and denied it, as her substantive appeal was not received within one year of the October 2014 rating decision or more than 60 days after the March 17, 2017 SOC.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for erectile dysfunction has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal carcinoma is remanded and will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for OSA, a heart disorder, peripheral vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, diabetic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's claims are not supported by the evidence.,Service connection is denied for all conditions listed above.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension due to insufficient medical evidence in the file. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine the nature, etiology, and date of onset of his conditions.