Kidney disease decisions — 2024

The Veteran's initial evaluation for chronic kidney disease with hypertension prior to April 3, 2019 was denied. Since April 3, 2019, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 30 percent due to normal creatinine levels.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions were dismissed due to his death during the appeal process.

The Veteran's hypertension was granted on a presumptive basis under the PACT Act, effective August 10, 2022.,Service connection for chronic kidney disease is granted as secondary to coronary artery disease and hypertension.,Service connection for hand disability (arthritis) is denied.,An initial compensable rating for service-connected hypertension is not warranted.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims, particularly concerning his exposure at Camp Lejeune and the relationship between his PTSD and obesity.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for hypertension was denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer and related surgeries was granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's end stage renal disease and anemia are secondary to his service-connected monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The claim of service connection for headaches, including as secondary to otitis media and participation in a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA), is dismissed as moot. The claim of service connection for chronic kidney disease, related to medication taken for service-connected musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal disabilities, is granted.

The Board has denied service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is not related to his military service and does not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for end stage renal disease, concluding that there is no evidence to support a finding that his condition was incurred in or caused by service, including exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's hypertension is granted a 10 percent rating, diabetes mellitus type II remains at 20 percent, and nephrosclerosis/chronic kidney disease is granted a 100 percent rating effective April 12, 2019. Other claims are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date of August 10, 2022, for service connection of chronic kidney disease is granted. The Board also remanded the cases for further development and examination to address issues related to hypertension and thoracolumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation guidelines.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were granted, and the effective dates are set to October 13, 2010.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of chronic kidney disease secondary to sinusitis and an earlier effective date prior to February 25, 2020 for a 50 percent evaluation of frontal sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for liver disorder, kidney disorder, sexual dysfunction disorder and obesity due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance or housebound status, as he does not require personal assistance from others and is not substantially confined to his dwelling.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, finding that his current diagnosis of chronic kidney disease is related to herbicide exposure during service. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional private medical records and consideration of his hypertension rating.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for renal cancer, etiology of knee pain, relationship with Vietnam and Southwest Asia service, and a pending de novo review claim at the time of death. The effective date issue is also addressed.