Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for various health conditions as the appellant requested to withdraw the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability ratings for migraine headaches, atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes mellitus has been dismissed due to the withdrawal of his representative.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during active duty, including kidney disability, heart disability, blood clot, skin disability, and hiatal hernia. The VA examiner is requested to review the Veteran's file and provide an opinion on whether these conditions are related to in-service exposures.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for colon cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and kidney cancer due to new evidence received since the June 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation is conceded.

The Veteran's service-connected status-post renal cell carcinoma is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his kidney disability, including voiding dysfunction.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims of service connection for gallbladder, kidney, and prostate disabilities. The VA will obtain updated treatment records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to toxins at Fort McClellan.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including diabetes mellitus. The Board has remanded the case for a VA medical opinion to determine if the service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to his death.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of non-VA medical treatment on November 23, 2014 is granted as the emergency room visit was considered a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal on the issues of service connection for lung cancer and kidney cancer was dismissed because his August 2020 VA Form 9 was not timely filed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for bilateral PVD and CKD, finding that his service-connected diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension caused these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for sleep apnea and kidney disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer, which resulted in a nephrectomy, is not related to service at Camp Lejeune. The evidence does not support a presumption of exposure due to contaminated water and the direct relationship between solvent exposure and kidney cancer is not established.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims, including those for ischemic heart disease, diabetic neuropathy, and skin disabilities. The additional evidence submitted since the May 2021 Supplemental Statement of the Case will be considered by the AOJ.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are granted. The Board has remanded the cases to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's hepatitis C, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for increased special monthly compensation and service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding hypertension and kidney disorder.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus, have impacted his ability to secure and follow a substantial gainful occupation at any time during the appeal period. The Board finds it necessary to remand this matter for a medical advisory opinion addressing the Veteran's functional limitations with respect to his service-connected disabilities throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's neoplasm of the kidney to include kidney loss has been granted an initial 100 percent rating, effective from the date of the decision. The condition is characterized by pathology of the remaining kidney with chronic kidney disease requiring regular routine dialysis and eligibility for a kidney transplant.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Okinawa and contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA is instructed to attempt verification of these exposures and provide a medical opinion on the etiology of the disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for removal of his right kidney, finding that the condition was incurred during active service and is not due to any pre-existing defect.