Kidney disease decisions — 2026

The Veteran's initial ratings for congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease have been denied as they do not meet the criteria for higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for benign liver disorder, cervical disorder (claimed as cervical cancer), gallstones, kidney stones, thyroid disorder, and ovarian cysts secondary to a cervical disorder due to inadequate medical opinions. The Veteran contends her conditions are related to toxic exposures during service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, Meniere's disease (vertigo), and kidney disease due to a lack of a Board hearing. The claims are also being remanded for additional development including obtaining VA treatment records, clarifying speech discrimination testing used in February 2024 VA treatment records, and providing an opinion on whether the Veteran has current kidney disabilities related to service, including lead exposure.

The Veteran's psoriasis and low back disability are granted service connection, but his kidney disease is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, renal dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected diabetes. The issue of service connection for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is remanded due to a reasonable possibility that development could substantiate the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding herbicide exposure in Panama and Fort Lewis, Washington. The Veteran's prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation with chest symptoms and elevated D-dimer, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension are currently diagnosed.

The Board has granted earlier effective dates for service connection of kidney disease and hypertension, but the Veteran's appeal to have these effective dates earlier is dismissed because the June 2025 rating decision was a purely ministerial implementation of the June 2025 Board decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for a kidney disability, thyroid disability, and bilateral hearing loss (secondary to PTSD) were denied. The claim for service connection for hypertension secondary to PTSD was granted. The claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for a higher rating for his renal disease and urinary incontinence have been dismissed as he has withdrawn the appeal.

The Veteran's initial claim for service-connected ischemic heart disease was granted with a 10% rating, which was later increased to 30%, and then to 60% effective August 14, 2025. The case is denied for an initial disability rating greater than 10 percent prior to August 10, 2015, and for a higher initial rating for diabetes mellitus, type II. Service connection was granted for renal insufficiency, but not for residuals of multiple fragment wounds of the left thigh.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is granted service connection. The issue of an initial compensable disability rating for bilateral kidney calculus prior to April 11, 2023, and in excess of 20 percent thereafter is remanded due to missing medical records.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment, leading to a TDIU. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance has also been established.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for sleep apnea and an initial compensable rating for hypertension due to errors in obtaining relevant evidence and developing the record.

The Veteran's renal/kidney disability is directly related to his exposure to Agent Orange and malaria medication during service, and the Board has granted direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) was granted an initial rating of 10 percent, effective March 22, 2023. The effective date for service connection is set at the date of receipt of the supplemental claim on March 22, 2023.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for prostate cancer and an earlier effective date for end stage renal failure with dialysis have been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot adjudicate the merits of these claims as he has passed away.

The Veteran's kidney disability and brain disability were granted service connection, but the effective dates are prior to December 28, 2016.,Neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities secondary to diabetes mellitus is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for granulomatous urethritis and amyloid deposition of kidney, and tinnitus have been denied. The kidney condition does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic codes. For tinnitus, there is no evidence of chronicity in service or within a presumptive period, nor has it manifested to a compensable degree.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not show that he was unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected conditions contributed to his death from COVID-19. The VA will obtain a new opinion on this issue.