Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure and for kidney cancer as secondary to the now service-connected hypertension.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disability and depression claims are remanded due to incomplete development of records from his service in Germany, lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the kidney disability, and the need for further examination by a nephrologist. The psychiatric claim is also remanded as it is intertwined with the kidney disability claim.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for primary myelofibrosis, a chronic condition to account for kidney failure, COPD, diabetes, and emphysema are reopened. The issues of service connection for these conditions due to petrochemical exposure, including benzene, are remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a full readjudication.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for kidney cancer, spinal cancer, and paralysis from the chest down due to potential secondary service connection with existing disabilities. The case is also remanded for clarification on the nexus between the Veteran's RCC and his service-connected hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disability is proximately due to his service-connected hypertension and erectile dysfunction, granting service connection for this condition.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, liver disease, kidney disease, and scleroderma as there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to service. The Veteran's cause of death (pancreatitis) was not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board has denied the claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status due to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD. The case is being remanded to obtain a VA opinion addressing whether the Veteran needed regular aid and attendance or was housebound as a result of his PTSD, and if so, whether it was related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to insufficient evidence and need further examination. The issues include COPD, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, major depressive disorder, kidney condition, and liver condition.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new opinion is needed to assess the combined effect of his service-connected disabilities on his employment.

The Board has granted service connection for sinusitis and epistaxis, but denied service connection for kidney cancer. The decision is based on the evidence showing that sinusitis and epistaxis likely had their onset in service, while kidney cancer was not related to service.

The Board has denied service connection for various conditions, including venous thrombosis, embolism, thoracic aortic aneurysm, pleural effusion in left hemithorax, bibasilar subsegment atelectasis and linear atelectasis of left lower lobe, anemia, kidney disease, hypertension, calcified pretracheal and hilar lymph nodes, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, nail disorder, dementia, osteopenia, skin rash, and tremors. The Board found that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service or an in-service injury.

Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a neck disability, and several other conditions. The remaining claims are remanded.

The Veteran's bilateral hip DJD and kidney disability have been granted service connection. The heart disorder, RLE neuropathy, and LLE neuropathy claims are remanded for further development.

The Board has ordered a remand to determine the nature and severity of the service-connected prostate cancer residuals, including any renal dysfunction. The current VA evaluation is deemed insufficient.

The Board has remanded several issues for further development, including service connection claims related to hypertension, kidney disorder, bilateral eye disorder, type II diabetes mellitus, heart disorder, and erectile dysfunction. The Veteran's exposure to helicopter emissions is considered in these cases.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for blood in urine, blood in stool, kidney stones, and gallstones as secondary to medication prescribed for the service-connected gastritis due to failure to obtain addendum opinions addressing the aggravation component of these claims.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma was not related to service, including presumed in-service asbestos exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 50 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The VA examiner found that his symptoms did not cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's kidney failure is granted as secondary to his service-connected hypertension.