Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is rated at a 20% effective October 24, 2022. The Board has also remanded the issues of service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease due to diabetes mellitus, type II.,Service connection for hypertension is granted under the PACT Act. However, an examination is needed to determine if it is related to herbicide exposure or another basis.

The Veteran's asthma, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, bilateral plantar fasciitis, cardiovascular disease, left shoulder condition, scars, kidney condition, TBI residuals, diabetes mellitus type II, diverticulitis, gastritis, and hypertension are remanded due to incomplete service records.

The Board has denied service connection for bronchitis, headaches, right shoulder disability, dermatitis, dry eye syndrome, kidney stones, and pharyngitis. The Veteran's claims are remanded due to potential exposure to toxic substances during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for papillary bladder cancer has been granted.,The claims of service connection for MGUS and CKD have been remanded.

The Board dismissed the appeals for effective dates prior to August 10, 2022 for service connection of hypertension, hypertensive heart disease with ventricular heart disease (heart disability), and chronic kidney disease. The appeal was also dismissed regarding entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits and TDIU.

The Veteran's kidney stones have been rated at 20 percent since June 10, 2019. The Board has now granted a 30 percent rating based on the evidence showing recurrent stone formation requiring both diet therapy and drug therapy.

Service connection is denied for right ear hearing loss, kidney cyst disorder, and muscle cramps/tense muscles disorder.,Effective date of August 29, 2023, granted for service connection of right hand neuropathy, erectile dysfunction, photo contact dermatitis, left ear hearing loss, right shoulder scar, left shoulder scar, heart disability, right hip limitation of extension, right hip limitation of adduction and abduction, right hip painful motion, left hip limitation of extension, left hip limitation of adduction and abduction, left hip painful motion, right foot tendinitis and tendinopathy, left foot tendinitis and tendinopathy, left ankle tendinopathy, right knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome, right shoulder status post arthroscopic superior capsular reconstruction, tendonitis, and tenodesis, right eye glaucoma and dry eye syndrome, left eye glaucoma and dry eye syndrome, anxiety with bruxism, disc herniation and mild stenosis of the lumbar spine, and diverticulitis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension has been granted. However, the claim for right ear hearing loss was denied due to lack of a current disability for VA purposes.

The Veteran's scar, post right inguinal hernia surgical repair is granted a 20 percent rating.,Service connection for tinnitus is granted.,Service connection for a skin condition (chloracne and/or dermatitis) as secondary to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for acute renal failure (kidney condition) as due to an enlarged prostate and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for rheumatoid arthritis as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for total right knee replacement, to include as due to rheumatoid arthritis and/or herbicide exposure is remanded.,Service connection for depression with sleep disturbance, to include as secondary to rheumatoid arthritis is remanded.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to renal cancer and transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis, finding that there was no evidence of these conditions at the time of his death.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and bladder cancer on a presumptive basis due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for kidney cancer is denied as there is no evidence linking the condition to service.

The Board has denied service connection for gallbladder disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, cirrhosis, and kidney disease as secondary to PTSD. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney cancer has been dismissed because the claim was resolved in his favor with a grant of service connection and an effective date.

The Veteran's tension headaches have been granted an initial increased rating of 50 percent, effective December 13, 2023.,Service connection for right shoulder acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis has been established. The Veteran is also service-connected for hepatic steatosis secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's Hepatitis C, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and kidney stones are granted as service-connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims for service connection have been reopened and the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether these conditions are related to contaminated water exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a genitourinary disorder, including prostatitis and kidney stones, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not begin during active duty and are not related to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic heart disease, Parkinson's disease, bladder cancer, and kidney disability are all granted. The kidney disability claim is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for diabetic nephropathy with impaired kidney function is remanded due to inadequate opinions and a need for further examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions of worsening symptoms or a nexus between his current conditions and service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized emergency room treatment on May 28, 2000 due to insufficient evidence and the Veteran's failure to provide additional documentation.