Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal regarding the earlier effective date for Total Disability based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The case is now closed.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, hypertension, hemorrhoids, hyperlipidemia, and a back condition have been denied as the evidence does not support a relationship to service.,Service connection is denied for all claimed conditions due to lack of in-service event or injury, no continuity of symptomatology, and insufficient medical evidence linking any current disability to service.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues of increased rating for PTSD and depressive disorder, service connection for renal cell carcinoma, and TDIU are remanded due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran's representative.

The Board denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for sinusitis with neoplastic mass, chronic kidney disease, electrolyte disorder, and hypertension due to a lack of current disability or causation.,The Veteran's claims were remanded multiple times but the evidence did not support finding any qualifying additional disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and toxic exposure during service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of compliance with previous remands and the need for new medical opinions. The issues are inextricably intertwined.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is related to his active service and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hyperthyroidism due to inadequate medical opinions. The VA is required to provide new medical opinions addressing whether these conditions are related to active service.

The Veteran's death was caused by pneumonia due to or as a consequence of renal failure. The service-connected conditions, including PTSD, degenerative disc disease, and hypertension, substantially contributed to the cause of his death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 80 percent for residuals of chronic kidney disease, to include on an extraschedular basis, is denied. The criteria for a higher rating are not met as the Veteran does not have renal dysfunction requiring regular dialysis or precluding more than sedentary activity from one of the specified conditions.

The Veteran's cause of death is remanded due to insufficient verification of herbicide exposure in Korea and CLCW exposure at Camp Lejeune. The AOJ must verify these exposures before service connection can be determined.

The Board has granted service connection for depression. The remaining issues of service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide agent exposure during the Veteran's service in or near the Korean DMZ. The claims for kidney stones, cysts on adrenal glands, and vestibular dysfunction with vertigo, balance issues, and nausea are remanded.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service in Vietnam, and he was granted service connection for this condition.,His lung, liver, and lymph node cancers are also considered secondary to his primary kidney cancer, which has been granted service connection. ,The cause of the Veteran's death due to cardiopulmonary arrest is attributed to his service-connected kidney cancer.

The Veteran's kidney condition and basal cell carcinoma scars status-post removals were denied service connection. The effective date for the award of service connection for scars status-post basal cell carcinoma lesion removal is set at March 3, 2020.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development and consideration, including obtaining additional medical records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's methadone, acetaminophen, or oxycontin prescriptions caused his death. The case will be returned for further evaluation.

The Board denied service connection for lung cancer, COPD, throat cancer, chronic kidney disease, and dysphagia as secondary to asbestos exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding his exposure to hazardous materials during service, particularly AFFF and lead paint. The claims are now pending again with instructions to prepare an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and obtain further opinions.

The Veteran's claims for glaucoma and temporomandibular joint dysfunction have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew these claims during a hearing.,New evidence has reopened previously denied claims for tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disability (including PTSD), congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, COPD, chronic renal insufficiency, hypertension, prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and right knee disability.