Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that more development is needed to determine if the Veteran's right kidney cancer and right unilateral nephrectomy associated with kidney cancer are related to his service, specifically exposure from chemical agents at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. The case is being remanded for further examination and review of medical records.

The Veteran's service connection claims for systemic lupus erythematosus, renal disease secondary to lupus, Raynaud's disease, scleroderma, and a left knee disability are all granted. The claim for service connection of the left knee disability is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to July 7, 2021, and a rating in excess of 30 percent thereafter, for chronic kidney stones is denied. The evidence does not reflect recurrent kidney stones, frequent attacks of colic, albumin, transient or slight edema during the appeal period.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, specifically herbicide exposure.,Nonservice-connected burial benefits were denied as the Veteran did not have a pending claim for such benefits at the time of his death.

The Veteran's kidney disability, including chronic renal disease and the need for a kidney transplant, is presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).,His early-onset peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, as well as squamous cell carcinoma of the left lateral forehead, left hand, and left ear and external auricular canal, are also presumed to be related to his service and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma is being remanded due to the submission of new and material evidence. The Board will schedule a VA examination to determine if RCC is related to his service, including herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasons and bases for its denial of service connection for a kidney disorder. The Veteran contends that his current kidney disorder is related to active duty service, specifically a traumatic injury he suffered in service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and kidney disorder due to service connection issues.,The Board has also remanded the Veteran's claims for heart disorder, peripheral neuropathy of upper and lower extremities, and kidney disorder due to service connection issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right renal cyst, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current condition and his active-duty service at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the cases for further development to verify the Veteran's exposure to herbicides, specifically in Da Nang Vietnam. The claims will be reconsidered based on this verification.

The Board has determined that the VA examinations and opinions provided do not adequately comply with the July 2020 Board remand directives. The Veteran is therefore required to undergo additional evaluations for his psychiatric, respiratory, skin, eye, kidney, ED, DM, and hypertension disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for retained metallic fragments near the left hip is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to the claimed injury.,Service connection for a kidney condition, including as secondary to retained metallic fragments, is also denied due to lack of medical nexus and conflicting evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's kidney issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to new evidence added since the last Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's service-connected Wegener's granulomatosis is found to be at least as likely as not the cause of his diagnosed kidney condition, respiratory condition (COPD), and sinusitis.,Service connection for Wegener's granulomatosis has been granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral kidney disability, finding that there was no evidence of a diagnosed condition during or within one year after service and no competent opinion linking the current condition to military service.

The Veteran was granted service connection for tinnitus, but denied service connection for right ear hearing loss and kidney stones. The Veteran's chronic sinusitis is rated at 50% from October 1, 2021.,Service connection for tinnitus was established as it was related to hazardous noise exposure during active military service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of sciatic nerve (left and right), and coronary artery disease did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings.

The Veteran withdrew her appeals for all issues concerning service connection for various conditions, including headaches, liver condition, pancreatic condition, sleep apnea, anxiety, insomnia and depression, gastric bypass, kidney condition, loss of gallbladder, loss of spleen, and osteoporosis and bone condition.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during service, specifically Agent Orange. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.