Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, right upper extremity pain, left upper extremity pain, left lower extremity pain, and right lower extremity pain due to insufficient medical opinions addressing causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for chronic renal disease and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for chronic renal disease, as it did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent. For TDIU, the Board determined that the Veteran does not meet the requirements to be considered unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service connection claims for chronic kidney disease, hypertension, nodular basal cell carcinoma left chest cancer, and residuals of a stroke associated with in-service exposure to ionizing radiation are denied. The Board found that the evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of medical nexus.

The Veteran's cause of death was not related to his military service, and the Board denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.,The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as he had not been rated 100% disabled for at least 10 years prior to his death.,The appellant's income exceeded the maximum rate for nonservice-connected death pension benefits, thus denying her entitlement to such benefits.

The Veteran's cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome with end stage liver disease, is found to be related to his service-connected PTSD and alcohol abuse. As the Veteran's PTSD was found to be a contributory cause of death, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded several issues related to service connection for various disabilities, including lower extremity neurological disability, chronic fatigue syndrome, kidney disability, liver disability, and left foot fungus. The Veteran's exposure during active service is alleged to be from handling nuclear/chemical weapons and contaminated soil/water.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for TMJ disorder, diabetes mellitus type II, polyneuropathy of the lower extremities, and kidney disorder. The appeal was dismissed due to a March 2019 rating decision granting service connection for TMJ disorder.

The Board has determined that a medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's cause of death claim, specifically regarding whether asbestos exposure caused kidney disease and if the right leg below the knee amputation contributed to his death.

The Board has denied service connection for hypertension, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and sleep apnea. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney disease, edema, right foot disorder, left foot disorder, and other conditions.,Service connection was not granted for kidney disease due to insufficient evidence linking it to military service or exposure to methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Further examination is needed.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the Veteran died during the pendency of the case.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a left leg disorder and kidney disorder, leading to the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from February 5, 2016 to February 7, 2016 are denied as the treatment was not rendered in an emergency situation and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and records. The issues of increased evaluations, service connection, and TDIU are all related and require further development.

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death due to pending claims related to other conditions. The appeal will be deferred until all other issues are resolved.

The Veteran's service connection claims for psoriatic arthritis and kidney disorder are remanded due to the AOJ failing to notify him of their findings regarding his treatment records from 'Arthritis Associates' in Hixson, Tennessee. The Veteran also has secondary theories of entitlement for these conditions.,The Veteran's service connection claim for a kidney disorder is remanded as he used Naproxen extensively to treat his service-connected orthopedic disorders and over time, the Naproxen damaged his kidneys.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, with the right ear evaluated at level IV and the left ear at level II.,For hypertension associated with residuals of renal cell carcinoma, a separate rating of 10 percent has been granted since October 18, 2012.

The Veteran's pulmonary hypertension and kidney disease are granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease with history of myocardial infarction.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him so helpless as to require the regular aid and attendance of another person, nor were they severe enough to cause him to be housebound.

The Board found that the amputation of the Veteran's left leg was not caused by VA treatment and did not result from an unforeseeable event. The evidence showed that conservative treatments were effective until a late infection developed, leading to the need for an amputation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and evaluations. The issues include psychiatric disorders, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, fainting disorder, stomach disorder, vertigo, sleep disorder, skin disorder, and renal cysts.