Kidney disease decisions — 2026

Service connection for Obstructive Sleep Apnea is granted.,The claims for service connection for Diabetes Mellitus type 2 and Kidney disability are remanded.

The Board has determined that remand is needed for new medical opinions to address the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, specifically osteoarthritis and kidney disability, due to ionizing radiation exposure. The claims are being returned to the RO for further development.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and upper extremity, bilateral kidney condition, right shoulder condition, lower back condition, anxiety, bilateral foot condition, right knee condition, diabetes mellitus, type II, headaches, gum condition, hypertension, blood disorder, and tinnitus. The case is remanded for further examination regarding a left ankle condition.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's kidney stone disability, finding that it began during his first period of active duty and has persisted since then.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development on the issues of service connection for sleep apnea, kidney stones, lumbosacral strain, and left lower extremity radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss was denied as there is no current evidence showing a disability meeting VA's criteria.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative arthritis with lumbosacral strain and related disabilities, including PTSD, are granted effective April 11, 2024. The Veteran also received a 50% rating for his PTSD.

The Board has remanded all five service connection claims due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain National Guard records for ADT or IDT. The Veteran's exposure to insecticides during his New York Air National Guard service is considered presumptive for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, CKD, COPD, and CLL.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a lack of an Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record (ILER) and potential burn pit exposure.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disability, including BPH, as the evidence did not support a finding that it began during service or was related to an in-service injury. The Veteran's other service-connected conditions were also found insufficient to cause or aggravate his prostate condition.

Effective July 5, 2018, the Veteran's kidney disability (nephrosclerosis and end stage renal disease post-kidney transplant) is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension and heart disability. Service connection for lung disability (restrictive lung disease and benign pulmonary nodules) is also granted as secondary to his service-connected heart disability.

The Veteran's right ankle arthritis is presumed to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hand arthritis, thoracic anterior wedge compression fracture, lumbar spine disability, right leg radiculopathy, left leg radiculopathy, kidney stones, endocarditis, and Parkinson's disease are not granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD remains pending and requires further development to verify the stressors reported during service.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for low back, left knee, right ankle, kidney, and heart disabilities are remanded for additional medical opinions.,No specific exposure basis is provided in this decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, including chronic urinary tract infection (UTI), pyelonephritis, nephrolithiasis, and medullary sponge kidney (MSK). The evidence did not support finding that these conditions began during service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

An effective date of November 26, 2023 is granted for the award of a 30 percent rating for chronic sinusitis.,An effective date of May 30, 2024 is granted for the award of a 10 percent rating for nephrolithiasis.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, warranting SMC based on the need for aid and attendance from March 24, 2017.

The Board has determined that separate evaluations for Chronic Kidney Disease and right kidney removal are not permitted as a matter of law, given the regulatory provisions in place. The Veteran's case is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of kidney disease, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for low red blood cell count, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), hypertension, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII, and right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy as secondary to DMII due to the need for additional National Guard records and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for diverticulitis, gastritis, GERD, IBS, and kidney stones (presumed due to Camp Lejeune exposure), but denied service connection for a liver disability.

The Veteran's kidney disability is remanded for further examination and opinion due to a failure to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion in the May 2024 rating decision.