Kidney disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple organ failure, which the Board found to be related to service-connected liver disease and other conditions. Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Board has withdrawn the claim of service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the claims for obstructive sleep apnea, neoplasm of the kidney with kidney removal, and bradycardia (bradyarrhythmia) with atrial fibrillation and left ventricular dilatation.

The Board has restored service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease and renal insufficiency, arteriosclerotic heart disease, tonic-clonic seizures or grand mal epilepsy, and anterior trunk scar due to clear and unmistakable error in the original award of service connection.

The Veteran's tension headaches are now rated at 50% effective December 20, 2024. Service connection for valvular heart disease is granted with a 60% rating from December 18, 2015 to November 5, 2024 and a 100% rating thereafter. The Veteran's service connection claim for CKD remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for heart disease and chronic kidney disease, finding that the evidence did not support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.,There was no direct evidence linking the current diagnoses to service. The medical opinions provided by VA concluded that the diagnosed conditions were less likely than not caused by herbicide exposure or contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for DM2 with ED, CKD, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities have been denied. The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's application for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants was denied as he does not meet the eligibility requirements due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the regulatory requirements.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a deficiency in the VA examiner's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his obesity, which is an intermediate step towards his left kidney renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error. The Veteran's residuals of malignant neoplasm of the kidney and left hip disorder are being reviewed again with new medical opinions.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of ischemic heart disease and chronic kidney disease, as well as his claim for a TDIU, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher disability ratings for either condition.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis of the liver were dismissed due to procedural deficiencies. The claims of entitlement to service connection for arrhythmia, chronic kidney disease, and bilateral lower extremity non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of proper identification of all potential toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs) during service and verification of in-service stressors. The Veteran is also required to undergo VA examinations related to his kidney condition and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's papillary renal cell carcinoma is related to exposure to burn pits during his service in Iraq, and therefore grants the claim for service connection on a direct causation basis.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as the effective date claim for service connection for CKD was not appealed within one year of the May 2020 rating decision.,The Veteran's increased ratings claims for unspecified neurocognitive disorder, right homonymous quadrantanopsia involving central fixation, and bilateral dry eye syndrome are remanded.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and its secondary effects. The Veteran's death during the appeal process means that no decision can be made on these claims.

The Board denied service connection for a left kidney tumor as there was no current diagnosis and the medical evidence did not support a link to service, including any exposure to toxins.

The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related lower extremity neuropathies as well as chronic kidney disease were denied. The effective date is set at August 10, 2022.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's chronic kidney disease, specifically whether it is related to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II with erectile dysfunction and/or hypertension.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals due to untimely filing of the appeal requests, as no good cause was shown for the delay.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for ischemic disorders and a kidney disorder are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations and medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.