Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for service connection on three conditions (kidney failure, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste) has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for sickle cell disease, right eye glaucoma, right hip avascular necrosis, and renal disorder as secondary to sickle cell disease.,Service connection was not granted due to the Veteran's pre-existing condition of sickle cell disease.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine arthritis and right shoulder arthritis. Service connection was denied for kidney cyst and adrenal disorder, both of which are presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate examination, and a new VA examination is needed to assess the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and its residuals.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus. Service connection is remanded for urinary incontinence and kidney disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including headaches, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, bilateral eye disabilities, a kidney cyst, left and right foot disabilities. The issues are related to aggravation of these conditions by other service-connected disabilities or due to exposure to burn pits and smoke during service in Saudi Arabia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent VA treatment records and requests for private health care providers who have treated the Veteran's kidney disability since his transplant in September 2017.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted service connection due to the PACT Act presumption of herbicide agent exposure. The renal cell carcinoma, which is secondary to hypertension, also receives service connection based on the PACT Act and the presumed relationship between hypertension and Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's polycystic kidney disease and renal toxicity are related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, which is presumed for veterans who served there. The Board found the evidence persuasive in favor of a finding that these conditions were caused by this exposure.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not rated higher than noncompensable, as the VA examination did not show a more severe disability.,Service connection for HTN was granted based on the PACT Act, which presumes HTN to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to incomplete service treatment records and inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and determining the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted on a presumptive basis due to the PACT Act. The claims for renal cell carcinoma and chronic kidney disease are remanded as new evidence has been submitted, but further development is needed.

The Veteran's kidney stones are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective November 14, 2021. The Veteran's gouty arthritis of the right great toe and left ankle is currently rated as 20 percent disabling for the period from June 17, 2005 to October 18, 2006.