Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's kidney stones have been granted a 10% rating effective September 22, 2016. The other issues were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia and sickle cell trait were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability for these conditions, as they are laboratory findings or congenital defects respectively. For CAD with heart valve malfunction and scoliosis, the Board finds that additional development is needed due to incomplete STRs and lack of definitive medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for chronic kidney disease and increased ratings for his myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease with supraventricular arrhythmia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis, a left kidney cyst, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a liver cyst due to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that neither of these conditions may be presumed to have been caused by such exposure. Additionally, efforts to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange were unsuccessful.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability and kidney condition, including loss of kidney. The remaining claims for peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and gastric cancer are being considered, with the possibility that exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may be related. The Board will seek additional evidence and determine if new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's clear cell carcinoma of the lungs and renal cell carcinoma are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, left ankle disability, neuropathy of the right foot, neuropathy of the left hand, neuropathy of the right hand, and neuropathy of the left foot are all denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is service connected as a result of herbicide exposure. The claims for erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease and pancreatitis are not addressed in the decision.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current kidney disorder and thus cannot establish service connection for the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus type II, CAD, and soft tissue sarcomas of the lung and right upper extremity/right shoulder are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran also has chronic kidney disease and diabetic neuropathy that are related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD, headaches, psychiatric disorder (depression), hypertension, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, brittle nails, and syphilis are not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his esophageal cancer and renal failure were not due to or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has ordered the VA to locate and reconstruct the Veteran's VHA folder, obtain his private medical records related to a kidney stone treatment at Mercy Health Partners on July 12, 2010, and provide an accounting of all steps taken. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for vertigo and is considering multiple other claims, including those related to sleep apnea, Peyronie's disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver condition, COPD, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, and a chronic disability related to pre-diabetes and hyperglycemia. The Veteran has not met the criteria for service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to cardiopulmonary arrest resulting from cardiomyopathy, which is not service-connected. The claim for burial benefits was denied.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to obtain VA treatment records and outstanding evidence, including the Veteran's service discharge certificate and medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disability, bilateral hearing loss, right shoulder and/or left shoulder disabilities, as well as his claim for an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from April 8, 2017. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's medical expenses incurred at Methodist Hospital from December 9, 2008 to December 29, 2008 are denied as the evidence shows that he could have been safely transferred to a VA facility by December 8, 2008.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for hypertension and renal disease secondary to service-connected disabilities due to insufficient examination reports, requiring further development.