Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic renal failure with congestive heart failure and ascites, as secondary to a service-connected disability is denied because he does not have a primary service-connected condition upon which secondary service connection may be granted.

The Board has remanded the cases due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's causes of death and DIC. A VA examination is required to address whether the Veteran's causes of death are related to his service-connected disabilities or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The kidney disability is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has granted service connection for renal insufficiency and right renal malignancy status post removal, finding that the Veteran's kidney disease is proximately due to his service-connected disorders. Service connection was also granted for erectile dysfunction as secondary to hypertension.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to acknowledged herbicide exposure in service and granted pursuant to the PACT Act. The issues of adrenal adenoma, BPH, essential thrombocythemia, MPN, polycythemia vera, renal lesion, and polymyalgia rheumatica are remanded for further examination and opinion regarding their relationship to herbicide exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and an addendum opinion is needed regarding the service connection for a kidney disorder.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic neuroendocrine cancer, but the Board finds insufficient medical evidence to determine if his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune caused this condition. The case is remanded for a VA medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for hyperthyroidism and nephrolithiasis, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for various conditions and issues have been withdrawn or remanded. The right knee disability claim has been reopened, but service connection is not granted. Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD is granted. Bilateral hearing loss requires a VA examination. A higher evaluation for PTSD is required. Headaches need an addendum opinion. Chronic rhinosinusitis needs a VA examination and etiological opinion. Right knee condition also requires a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperlipidemia, kidney failure, and multiple myeloma have been denied. The Board found that the conditions are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.,There is no evidence of herbicide exposure in Germany where the Veteran served, which is a requirement for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, including nephropathy with hypertension, was found not to meet the criteria for a higher disability evaluation.,Erectile dysfunction was also found not to warrant a separate compensable rating.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II; hypertension; ischemic cardiomyopathy, to include CAD and a pacemaker, status post quadruple bypass; left and right lower extremity PAD; and CKD. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease and renal cysts are being remanded for further development due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is a result of Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II and hypertension are granted as presumptively due to herbicide agent exposure under the PACT Act.,Diabetic left foot ulcer is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is granted as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Board has remanded several issues, including the entitlement to service connection for a right heel disability and the TDIU claim. The earlier effective date for chronic kidney disease is granted, but the rating for PTSD remains denied.

The Veteran's renal calculi and headaches were granted service connection as they began during their respective periods of active military service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from August 2, 2012 to September 20, 2017. SMC was granted for the same period due to his chronic kidney disease.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's exposure to solvents during service, including trichloroethylene (TCE), caused his kidney cancer. The decision resolves reasonable doubt in favor of the appellant.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A VA examination is required to determine if the condition is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents.