Kidney disease decisions — 2026

The Board has denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that they are not related to active duty service or any period of ACDUTRA/INACDUTRA service. The appellant's claims are based on secondary service connection due to a non-service-connected condition (Lyme disease), but the evidence does not support this claim.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a current disability for the conditions he is seeking service connection for, and thus denied these claims. The appeal was also remanded for additional examinations related to other disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is granted with an effective date of August 10, 2022. The appeal for PTSD and hypertension remains denied.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is already rated at 100% and a separate temporary total rating for convalescence is denied as the condition remains active.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (chronic kidney disease, coronary artery disease, and hypertension) have precluded him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation since March 25, 2025. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's kidney stones were granted a 10 percent rating, which is the maximum non-compensable rating available. The symptoms included intermittent dysuria and flank pain without evidence of infection or catheter drainage.

The Veteran's initial 40 percent rating for hypertensive chronic kidney disease is granted, effective December 1, 2025. A TDIU is also granted.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney disability, dry skin, and unspecified depressive disorder based on secondary causation by the Veteran's service-connected hypertension. The effective date is not specified.

The Veteran's claims for cervical strain, lumbar spine strain, loose teeth, and cyst excision residuals have been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.,The Veteran's claim for kidney disease has been remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding its etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and his military service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents. The VA is instructed to obtain an addendum opinion from a medical expert to address whether the Veteran's condition is related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and other statutory and regulatory duties. The appellant is not provided with proper notice for a cause of death claim, and further development is needed regarding herbicide agent exposure and radiation exposure during service.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney removal and prostate cancer due to potential exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Panama. The VA will need to gather additional medical records, verify the Veteran's lay reports of exposure, and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's kidney stones, neck injury, asthma, and right leg or knee disability are all granted. The Veteran is also awarded a 30% rating for his neck injury. However, the claims for service connection for asthma and right leg or right knee disabilities are remanded due to lack of proper development.

The Veteran's death was determined to be caused by lung cancer, which is presumed to have developed due to service exposure to herbicide agents. The claim for DIC benefits has been granted with an effective date of December 19, 2014.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including prostate cancer, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, type II, diabetic nephropathy and end stage renal disease with dialysis, diabetic peripheral neuropathies of various extremities, erectile dysfunction, lumbar spine strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome, and bilateral knee replacements, do not meet the criteria for service connection based on direct evidence or presumptive exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that there was no qualifying exposure to toxic environmental exposures during service.

The Veteran's cause of death was hyperkalemia, hemolytic anemia, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. His Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia substantially contributed to his death.,Service connection for tremors is granted with an effective date of April 11, 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, fatty kidney disease, hypertension, and sleep apnea are remanded due to a lack of VA examinations addressing the etiology of these conditions.

The Veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death as there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and no other link between the Veteran's death and his military service.

The Veteran's service connection claims for lumbosacral strain, right knee tendonitis, and right ear hearing loss have been granted. Claims for left hand injury, kidney stones, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorder, left shoulder disorder, left knee disorder, and fatty liver disease were denied.