Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for service connection for seizures and suprarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm due to exposure to herbicide agents need further development, as VA medical opinions are required.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a lack of consideration on direct causation and exposure to herbicide agents. Additional examinations are required.

The Veteran's claim for financial assistance due to service-connected disabilities resulting in loss or use of feet is being remanded for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma is remanded due to new evidence provided by the Veteran linking ocular infections and tetracycline to renal diseases. The Board finds that a VA examination should be scheduled to determine if RCC is related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents, service-connected conditions, or other factors.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and granted service connection for kidney cancer with an effective date of March 14, 2017. The Veteran also requested an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for kidney cancer based on direct service connection, but this was not granted as it would be precluded by the liberalizing regulations.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development to obtain relevant medical records and consider all evidence received since the July 2018 statement of the case.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his claimed bladder, liver, renal, and hypertension disabilities. The AOJ must also consider whether service connection can be granted on a presumptive basis due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes and chronic kidney disease, as well as his claim for an earlier effective date for service connection. The Veteran is to be scheduled for VA examinations to assess the current severity of his disabilities, and all relevant medical records are to be obtained.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased evaluations have been denied. The Veteran is granted a 10% evaluation for right and left shin splints, but her claims are remanded for further development regarding other conditions.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various kidney conditions due to inadequate examination and lack of documentation.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Board has ordered the VA to obtain medical records from a federal prison where the Veteran was incarcerated. The records are needed to determine if he had exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and if this contributed to his diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for a lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of bilateral lower extremities (secondary to lumbar spine disability), sleep apnea (to include as secondary to service-connected PTSD), and kidney disability (to include as secondary to service-connected hypothyroidism) due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the appellant's death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability and depression has been reopened. The Board has remanded the cases for further development to determine if there is new and material evidence, as well as to obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of any pre-existing conditions and their relationship to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted. The kidney condition claim is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is found to be the result of in-service herbicide agent exposure, and service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU prior to March 13, 2009. The Board found that his education and work experience were sufficient to allow him to maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to delays in scheduling VA examinations and lack of clear communication regarding these appointments. The Veteran is required to attend future scheduled examinations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II is currently rated at 20 percent disabling, and the Board finds that a higher evaluation is not warranted. The Veteran does not require regulation of activities to manage his diabetes. As for TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran has met the schedular criteria but is unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.