Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's SMC from January 5, 2018, to April 12, 2023, is granted at the rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(n) due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected cystic kidney disease is remanded. The issue of compensation for voiding dysfunction, hypertension, stricture, and hydronephrosis as secondary to his service-connected cystic kidney disease is also under the Board's jurisdiction.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lung cancer is being readjudicated due to new and relevant evidence. The claim for kidney cancer remains remanded as the AOJ failed to obtain a medical nexus opinion or corroborate exposure to TCE.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for low back pain and a compensable rating for residual scar associated with pacemaker placement. The appeal regarding kidney disorder (claimed as kidney cancer) is remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected hypertension, finding that the current CKD is proximately due to HTN.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and dismissed his appeal of entitlement to service connection for a left kidney disability from VA's modernized review docket. The Board has also remanded the issue of new and relevant evidence for bilateral porokeratosis of the feet, which was previously denied in 2009.,The Veteran is seeking service connection for his bilateral porokeratosis of the feet, claiming that he first experienced symptoms during service at Camp Lejeune. The Board has found this to be new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because he passed away before the Board could make a decision. The issues of service connection for gastrointestinal cancer and kidney cancer, status post left nephrectomy, were not addressed due to his death.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Thailand.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus and kidney stones. The decision found that there is no current evidence of these conditions, and thus cannot establish a link to military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cysts are related to service, specifically exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune and in-service exposure to herbicide agents. However, due to a lack of medical evidence on file, an examination is required to provide a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus as secondary to herbicide exposure is granted, effective March 30, 2011.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for squamous cell various, skin cancer due to the Veteran's withdrawal.,Service connection was granted for diabetes mellitus type II based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for coronary artery disease (CAD) with atrial fibrillation based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for hypertension based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for lymphoma based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.,Service connection was granted for renal adenocarcinoma with renal insufficiency based on presumed exposure to herbicides during active-duty service in Korea.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is directly related to his in-service consumption of ibuprofen, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer with kidney cancer and obstructive sleep apnea, render him unemployable. The Board is remanding the case to consider whether a TDIU on an extraschedular basis is warranted from March 4, 2021 to November 29, 2023.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of June 15, 2022 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected kidney cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's kidney cancer and his service, including potential herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The issue of secondary service connection for bladder cancer and hypertension is also pending.

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

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart condition. The claims of entitlement to compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for back, kidney, headache, left leg numbness, and right leg numbness conditions are remanded.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic kidney disease and degenerative disc disease of the thoracolumbar spine was denied. The Board also remanded claims for increased ratings for radiculopathy in both lower extremities.

The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 30 percent for CKD stage 3A is denied, and the case is remanded for further evaluation regarding his residual scars status-post partial nephrectomy.