Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA opinion regarding whether any of the conditions causing or contributing to the Veteran's death were related to service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records.

The Board has remanded the claims for a new VA examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and hypertension disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection for right kidney cancer due to herbicide agent exposure was previously denied and not reopened.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The preponderance of evidence does not support the claim.

The veteran's spouse is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum allowable limit.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease, and cerebrovascular accident due to a lack of substantial compliance with previous directives.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for kidney stones is denied because the condition is asymptomatic and does not require any treatment or procedures.

The Veteran's kidney disease, ED, and periodontal disease are found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.,The Veteran’s vascular disease is not found to be related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability.,The appellant sought DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318, but the claim is denied as there was no continuous total rating for at least five years prior to death.

The Board has granted service connection for various conditions, including diabetes mellitus and its complications, as due to herbicide exposure in the Republic of Vietnam. The Veteran's amputation of the right fourth toe, bilateral diabetic neuropathy of the feet, kidney disability, erectile dysfunction, and diabetic retinopathy are all found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer is likely due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has reopened the DIC claim based on new and material evidence showing that Darvon, a medication prescribed for service-connected back disorder, may have caused or contributed to the Veteran's death from sepsis with profound hypotension. The claims under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 and 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are also remanded for further examination.

The Board granted service connection for a back disability, bilateral hip disability, bilateral knee disability, bilateral leg numbness, OSA as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent, cardiovascular disability (including atrial fibrillation or coronary artery disease) and skin cancer all as due to in-service exposure to an herbicide agent. The effective date of the rating for these conditions is March 3, 2016.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for kidney failure, hip and knee conditions, as well as a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was denied. The issue of service connection for right atrophic kidney with mid ureteral stricture is referred to the AOJ due to its inextricability from the hearing loss claim.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and related conditions.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple myeloma transitioning into chronic myelogenous leukemia and subsequent renal failure. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records, clarify diagnoses, and determine if any of these conditions are service-connected.

The Veteran's kidney condition and back condition are not service-connected. The kidney condition claim is denied, while the back condition claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's renal cancer, sleep disorder (including sleep apnea and insomnia), peripheral neuropathy, and PTSD are presumed to be related to his service due to exposure to herbicide agents. The cause of death is also presumed to be related to the Veteran's service-connected renal cancer.

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the issues of service connection for residuals of acute pancreatitis and renal disorder because no VA examiner has provided an opinion regarding whether these conditions are directly related to service, including exposure to oil field fires while serving in Southeast Asia. The remand is necessary to obtain further medical opinions.