Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and renal disease due to exposure to environmental hazards during his Southwest Asia service, including heavy oil smoke from fires and depleted uranium. The AOJ is instructed to verify these exposures and obtain a medical opinion on whether they are etiologically related to the Veteran's conditions.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's diagnosed chronic kidney disease was caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. As a result, the claim for service connection for kidney disease secondary to diabetes mellitus, type II is granted.

The Board has found the November 2020 VA examination opinion inadequate for adjudication purposes and remanded for an addendum opinion applying the correct standard of evaluation for secondary service connection via aggravation. The remaining claims are also remanded as they may be impacted by the hypertension claim.

The Veteran's appeal for asthma has been dismissed. The claim of PTSD was reopened and granted, but the rating assigned is not specified. Sleep apnea and adrenal gland disability claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and higher ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination. The TDIU claim has been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for residuals of renal cancer, hypertension, and respiratory condition due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of clear evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to additional development being needed, including verification of herbicide exposure and VA examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and kidney cancer, finding that both conditions are caused by the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the service connection claims related to prostate disorder, kidney disorder, and degenerative disc disease of the low back. The Board dismissed these matters as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, which is related to the Veteran's exposure to burn pits during his military service. The appeal regarding blood clots was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hypertensive heart disease, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and insufficient medical evidence to establish a link between these conditions and service.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right duplex kidney disability was aggravated by service. The case will be reviewed with a new VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including left knee disability, neck disability, sleep apnea, sarcoidosis, renal disease with hypertension, and posttraumatic stress disorder, have caused him to be unemployable prior to December 20, 2019. The Board has remanded the case for further consideration by VA's Director of Compensation Service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development regarding the relationship of the Veteran's causes of death to his service, including foreign service in Germany.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to pancreatic cancer, which is service-connected. His skin cancers and renal cell carcinoma also contributed substantially to his death. The Board granted burial benefits as the Veteran's death was service-connected.

The Veteran's hypertension is related to and had its onset in service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as end stage kidney disease and squamous cell carcinoma metastatic to bones. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service, and denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 because he did not meet the required criteria.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient development regarding his potential exposure to hazardous materials during service, particularly AFFF and asbestos.

The appeals seeking service connection for lung condition, esophageal condition, ED, lymphoma, renal toxicity, cataracts, bladder condition, and NHL have been dismissed.,New and material evidence having been received, the requests to reopen claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left foot arthritis, a right leg disorder, a skin disorder, a sleep disorder, and a low back disorder are granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and opinions.