Kidney disease decisions — 2023

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for bilateral hearing loss, atypical chest pain, and kidney pain. The Board has remanded the case to determine if the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development, specifically requesting additional information about the examiners who provided medical opinions and examinations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for COPD, OSA, HTN, and other conditions are remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board has remanded the cases for further examination and review due to errors in considering direct and indirect complications of the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, including chronic kidney disease, syncope, cataracts, urinary tract infection, bilateral cramps in the lower extremities, and tinea cruris.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional evidence, including a copy of the 2009 NRC Study.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine the likely etiology of the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, status-post right nephrectomy. The case is being remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to hypertension, and the issue of service connection for gout is remanded.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance as he is capable of attending medical appointments outside his home, does not require nursing care, and has no significant impairments that necessitate regular aid and attendance.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and conflicting exposure information. The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma with metastasis to the lungs is being reviewed for service connection, but further evidence is needed.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted as due to herbicide exposure under the PACT Act. The other service connection claims are denied.,Service connection for atrophied testicle/loss of use of a creative organ, kidney disability, right knee disability, back disability, and right foot disability were all denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a thyroid disability, respiratory disability, and an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss disability rated as 30 percent prior to June 6, 2003, and as 40 percent thereafter, to include on an extraschedular basis have been dismissed.,The RO reduced the Veteran's disability rating for renal dysfunction with hypertension from 30 percent to 0 percent effective April 20, 2022. The reduction was deemed improper.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and initial disability ratings are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his claimed disabilities, as well as a TDIU claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from June 6, 2011, finding that his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure history and medical opinions.

Service connection for a chronic kidney disability is denied as the Veteran's current condition is not related to an in-service injury or disease.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability is denied as there is no evidence of chronicity within one year post-service and no relationship to service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an error in providing notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding service connection for unspecified eye injury. The issues of service connection for kidney stones and hypertension are remanded.

The Veteran's kidney failure is related to exposure to environmental hazards while in service, specifically the burn pit at Bagram Air Base. The Board found that his condition was a direct result of these exposures and granted service connection for kidney failure.

The Veteran's claims for service connection related to kidney problems, sleep apnea, and eye issues are remanded due to incomplete records and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions including arthritis, heart condition, eye condition, insomnia, hypertension, kidney condition, hearing loss, lower back condition, cervical degenerative disc disease (claimed as neck arthritis and arthritis all systems), and depression due to new evidence being added since the last decision.