Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and hypertension (post-myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft) is rated at 100 percent effective May 9, 2019. The Veteran's diabetic neuropathy of the left upper extremity, right upper extremity, left lower extremity (femoral), and right lower extremity (sciatic) are all rated as 30 percent each. His left medial knee scar, anterior chest scar, and painful scars are all rated as non-compensable. The Veteran's service connection for chronic kidney disease with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and hypertension is granted effective May 9, 2019.

The Board has remanded the claims of entitlement to service connection for atherosclerotic renal disease, headaches, cervical spine disability, and skin cancer due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.,Service connection for angina is denied as there is no current diagnosis of angina or any related heart disability.

The Veteran's increased rating claims and entitlement to a TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors, including the need for additional examinations and evidence.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is related to service and has been granted service connection.,The Veteran's coronary artery disease (CAD) from August 1, 2022, has been granted a rating of 100 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension has been granted an initial 20% rating.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is related to his service in Vietnam and presumed exposure to herbicide agents, thus service connection for the condition is granted.

The appeal as to the issues of entitlement to compensable ratings for erectile dysfunction, hypertension, pheochromocytoma, laparotomy incision scars, and left adrenalectomy scars; and entitlement to service connection for shortness of breath, 'tired all the time,' and 'can't sleep' is dismissed. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, secondary to hypertension, is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for reopening service connection claims based on new evidence were dismissed due to a procedural error in the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA) framework. The appeal regarding service connection was also dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension have been granted. Hypertension is granted based on the PACT Act.,Service connection has also been established for erectile dysfunction as secondary to diabetes mellitus, cataracts as secondary to diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease as secondary to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's renal failure is granted as secondary to his service-connected diabetes with erectile dysfunction. The Board has also remanded for further examination and rating of the Veteran's diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is not service-connected due to exposure to herbicides, and a remand is ordered for an opinion on whether his diabetes mellitus aggravated his kidney cancer.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and specifically for a new VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's CKD with renal toxicity was caused or aggravated by his service-connected thoracic spine and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, which he treated with NSAIDs.

Your appeals for various conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing. No final decision has been made on your claims.

The Board denied service connection for benign essential tremors and chronic kidney disease, finding that the conditions did not begin within one year of separation from active duty or were not related to service exposure.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate your claims as they are no longer pending.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for kidney cancer and Barrett's esophagus due to new evidence submitted after the initial denial. The Veteran is being asked to provide a VA examination and opinion regarding the onset of his conditions during service.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for kidney cancer and Barrett's esophagus due to new evidence submitted after the January 2019 rating decision. The Veteran was exposed to potential toxins at Ground Zero during his active duty service, which may be associated with his conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding service connection for kidney cancer, including exposure to Agent Orange. Additional development is required.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and there is no evidence to support the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Veteran's depression and anxiety are currently rated at 50 percent, but a higher 70 percent rating is granted effective January 23, 2014. The earlier effective date for TDIU prior to December 29, 2017 is denied.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, which rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.,Effective September 13, 2022, the Veteran is also entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined disability rating of 90 percent without including the PTSD.