Kidney disease decisions — 2025

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection and ratings related to chronic renal failure, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, and special monthly compensation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for kidney disease, finding no evidence to support an earlier effective date or a more severe disability rating based on the available medical records.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disability, as there was no evidence of a current disability. The claims for cervical radiculopathy, left hip strain, and right hip strain were remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board granted service connection for diabetic retinopathy, chronic kidney disease, a heart disability, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, a colon disability, major depressive disorder, and diabetes mellitus, type 2. The claims for PTSD, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, type 2, and hypertension were denied.

The Board granted service connection for kidney cancer, secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including sinusitis, lung disability, liver disability, kidney disability, sleep apnea, shoulder disabilities, peripheral neuropathy of the extremities, and flatfoot, as there was no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's active military service.

The Board granted service connection for a chronic kidney disability on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least in balance that the Veteran's chronic kidney disability started in service and was attributable to conceded herbicide agent exposure.

The Board granted an initial 60 percent rating for chronic kidney disease with renal cysts and remanded the claim for service connection for sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for restoration of a compensable evaluation for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and service connection for chronic kidney disease.

The appeals for service connection for chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hypothyroidism, and ischemic heart disease are dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board granted a 10 percent initial rating for residual scars from basal cell carcinoma and service connection for chronic kidney disease, which was caused by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and hypertensive vascular disease. The claims for service connection for a cervical spine disability and headaches were remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's attempts to appeal rating decisions that denied service connection for various conditions and reduced his evaluation, as the appeals were not timely filed.

The Board's decision to grant service connection for kidney disease and deny a rating greater than 50 percent for a psychiatric disorder was vacated due to the death of the appellant before the decision could be implemented.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis because of a pre-decisional duty to assist error in that the July 2023 VA examination and corresponding medical opinion contain contradictory information.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for chronic kidney disease and remanded the claim for hypothyroidism for further development.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for kidney disease and hypertension to obtain additional evidence and a more thorough medical opinion.

The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including IBS, venous insufficiency, a lung condition, liver condition, GERD, right and left hand conditions, upper extremity neuropathy, kidney condition, and obesity. The claims for bilateral shoulder strain, bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, and arthritis; left knee strain and instability; right knee strain and instability; left ankle condition; right ankle condition; hypertension; erectile dysfunction; allergic rhinitis; obstructive sleep apnea; tension headaches; heart condition; depression; and anxiety were remanded for further development.

The Board granted service connection for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and anemia, but remanded claims for chronic kidney disease, hematuria, and multiple myeloma.

The Board granted service connection for surgical scars associated with kidney surgery, resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The appeal of the proposed decrease in evaluation of bladder cancer from 100 percent to 20 percent and the appeal for service connection for a kidney condition were both dismissed due to untimely notice of disagreement.