Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis is granted a 10 percent evaluation, and his sleep apnea service connection claim is denied.

The Veteran's appeal has been remanded for further evaluation of his hypertension and chronic kidney disease with hypertension, including a new VA examination. The effective date for the award of service connection for chronic kidney disease with hypertension is set at December 6, 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is granted service connection due to exposure to herbicides during his service in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the cause of death and potential toxic exposure. The Veteran's cause of death is metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure, septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and squamous cell carcinoma of unknown origin. The VA will need to obtain additional service personnel records and provide a TERA opinion.

The Board has dismissed all appeals for rating increases and service connection due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's service connection claims for OSA, insomnia/anxiety disorder, and TDIU have been granted.,Service connection has also been remanded for the issue of kidney disorder.

The Board has decided that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claim of service connection for sleep apnea, which was previously remanded multiple times. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further review and a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's sleep apnea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted. The claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an incorrect appeal form being used, and a new SOC must be issued for the Veteran to continue his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and OSA have been granted service connection. The remaining issues are being remanded for further development.,Service connection has been established for PTSD, hypertension, and OSA based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused by his service at Camp Pendleton, specifically the conceded TERA exposure. The examiner must consider the Veteran's claims of toxin exposure and any studies regarding such exposures.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to lung, kidney, and prostate cancers, which are presumptively related to his service. The appeal for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for kidney stones was denied.,Service connection for bilateral foot pain, diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, was granted. The Veteran is now entitled to compensation for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his death from cirrhosis of the liver and acute kidney injury.

The Board denied service connection for Impaired Fasting Glucose (claimed as Diabetes Mellitus) and a kidney condition, finding that the Veteran's conditions were not incurred or caused by her military service.

The Veteran's death appeal was remanded due to insufficient medical opinions regarding his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and service connection, as well as the need for additional development of records.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The rating for his PTSD remains at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for chronic nephritis (kidney condition) was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 submitted before the January 25, 2024 rating decision did not apply to that decision.

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for kidney cancer, including as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, Type II (DM II), due to procedural errors and the need for additional medical opinions.