Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that service connection for a kidney disability is denied, and the issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability (diagnosed as dementia and depression) is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's sarcoidosis is caused by service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.,Service connection cannot be established for kidney disease as there is no evidence of its onset during or within one year following service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding that it was related to service.

The Veteran's gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is rated at 30 percent effective April 26, 2019.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits was established from April 26, 2019.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's cause of death and his military service, specifically his presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also notes that the PACT Act may benefit the Appellant in establishing service connection for the Veteran's cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding proposed severance of service connection for kidney disease and residuals of a nephrectomy scar because the VA had not yet made a final decision to sever service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of headaches, service connection for brain tumor, hypertension, varicose veins, and chronic renal disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The severance of service connection for bilateral glaucoma is also being remanded.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted as service connected, with the Board finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his military service due to NSAID use.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of death and its relation to service, particularly given the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The AOJ is instructed to obtain an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) for the Veteran and a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) memorandum.

The Veteran's kidney disability, including stones and cysts, is remanded for further examination to determine if service connection can be established.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to errors in duty to assist, and for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for psychiatric disability, bilateral foot disability, and kidney disability.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial disability rating for his chronic kidney disease (CKD) is dismissed because the Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal in a statement filed on April 2024.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is remanded for further evaluation due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between his service exposure at Camp Lejeune and his condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for metastatic rectal cancer, kidney cancer, and liver cancer due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and the need to satisfy other statutory duties. Further development is necessary regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for recurrent kidney stones and chronic kidney disease is granted, with an effective date of May 10, 2020.

Service connection has been granted for prostate cancer, lung disorder (asthma with lung nodule), chronic kidney disease, and sinonasal polyposis (claimed as residuals of plasma cytoma) due to exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral hearing loss is denied, and the claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is remanded due to procedural errors.

The Veteran's claims for migraine headaches, immune disorder, PTSD, and increased compensation for PTSD are dismissed. The claim for service connection of chronic right kidney disease is remanded.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for hypertension and ESRD, finding that new evidence supports these claims. The Veteran's hypertension is found to have had its onset during active duty, and it is at least as likely as not that his ESRD is secondary to his hypertension.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to correct errors in the duty to assist, including obtaining outstanding treatment records and a medical opinion considering the PACT Act's requirements for toxic exposure risk activities.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's disabilities.