Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the complete service records have not been obtained and a remand is necessary to obtain them. Additionally, a VA examination with an opinion is needed to determine the nature, etiology, and severity of the Veteran's claimed lumbar spine, right foot, thoracic spine, and shoulder disabilities.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient unit records, which may affect the determination of exposure to Agent Orange and thus service connection for diabetes mellitus, cataract disability, and cystic disease of the kidneys.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for a skin disability and kidney disability due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as an adequate advisory medical opinion regarding the likely etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was granted an initial rating of 70 percent prior to September 4, 2020. A separate 10 percent rating for TBI residuals was also granted. The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is now rated as higher than 50 percent after September 4, 2020. Other issues related to service connection were remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. The cases of right knee disability, chronic kidney disease, diverticulitis, and Barrett's esophagus are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, which was caused by in-service exposure to herbicide agents, led to his acute renal failure and death. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity conditions are remanded for further evaluation due to insufficient medical opinions and the need for additional evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea and its relationship to his service-connected chronic kidney disease with hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development to determine if his brain tumor and renal cancer are related to service, including exposure to hazardous cleaning chemicals. Additionally, the TDIU issue will be addressed.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, renal condition, migraine headaches, right hip condition, and left hip condition as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for gout and right foot plantar fasciitis, finding no current diagnosis of these conditions. The Veteran's claims for bladder cancer and kidney cancer were also denied due to lack of evidence linking the cancers to his military service.,There is insufficient evidence to support a link between the Veteran's claimed conditions and his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for voiding dysfunction due to urethral stricture and chronic kidney disease. The case is remanded for further analysis on the issues of service connection for bladder cancer (secondary to service-connected urethral stricture) and multiple sclerosis.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding of herbicide exposure during service and concluding that the Veteran's heart condition is not related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a microscopic analysis of the Veteran's urinalysis reports and an opinion regarding whether his hypertension is related to his renal dysfunction.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU from September 9, 2011, through February 24, 2014, and from May 2, 2016, to present. The Board remanded the case for further development regarding the period from May 28, 2011, through September 8, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected RLE peripheral neuropathy is granted with a 30% disability rating throughout the appeal period.,Service connection for LLE peripheral neuropathy prior to April 8, 2002 is also granted. However, from that date onwards, any request for a higher rating than 10% is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for bilateral renal artery stenosis as the condition has been asymptomatic and without renal dysfunction throughout the appeal period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability, finding that his current condition is not related to his military service and was more likely due to risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, advancing age, and obesity.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an increased rating to 70 percent, but no higher. Service connection for a bilateral foot disability and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities are also granted.