Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew all issues on appeal, including those for bilateral flat feet, left shoulder impingement, right shoulder impingement, right knee strain (also claimed as lower leg condition), left Achilles tendinitis (also claimed as ankle condition), abnormal kidney function, benign neoplasm of skin right lower eyelid, bilateral presbyopia/hypermetropia with right eye retina lattice degeneration and round hole, chronic asthma condition, chronic fatigue syndrome, hyperlipidemia, left knee strain (also claimed as lower leg condition), and ventral hernia.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer, colon cancer, and urothelial carcinoma in-situ of bilateral renal pelvises due to exposure to hazardous materials during active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions due to a lack of proper consideration of his exposure to radiation during service. The AOJ is instructed to provide the Veteran with notice of his right to a hearing and forward all relevant documents, including a July 2013 memo about ionizing radiation exposure at Fort Bliss, to the VA Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic renal carcinoma, is related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's claims for liver disability and kidney cancer are being remanded due to errors in the decision-making process, including a lack of adequate VA examinations and missing medical records.

The appeals for service connection for kidney cancer and right nephrectomy residuals are dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further toxic exposure evaluation. The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is being reviewed, along with any potential toxic exposures related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's kidney disease, as well as a need for a VA examination and medical opinion on participation in TERA.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for right inguinal hernia repair, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), neck disability, hypertension, hemorrhoids, mild renal insufficiency (claimed as renal failure), colitis, and bilateral shoulder disabilities due to incomplete records and inadequate examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including examinations and opinions regarding his renal disorder, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, TDIU, and SMC.

The Board has decided that the evidence is insufficient to dismiss the Veteran's inquiry about the PACT Act, and thus remanded for further development regarding potential toxic exposures.

The Board has granted service connection for glioblastoma and renal cell carcinoma, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's in-service exposure. The decision is based on a private medical opinion which found a causal relationship between the cancers and the conceded toxic exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, requiring an addendum VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's kidney disability is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to consider whether the requirements of McLendon v. Nicholson were met, thereby entitling the Veteran to a VA examination in consideration of his claim for service connection for kidney disease.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cystic kidney disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the condition and active duty service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is etiologically related to service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate and kidney cancers may be related to his service, but further medical examination is needed to establish this relationship.

The Board has granted service connection for asthma, emphysema, and kidney disease related to asbestos exposure. Service connection is remanded for COPD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left kidney cyst, migraine headaches, and lung nodule are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's in-service occupation as an auto mechanic and his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The reduction of the rating from 100 percent to 60 for renal cancer s/p right renal nephrectomy was proper. The appeal is therefore, denied.