Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder is dismissed, and the effective date of his service connection is set at March 29, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for erectile dysfunction is granted. The claims for increased ratings for prostate cancer and voiding dysfunction, as well as the TDIU and renal dysfunction claims are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for macular degeneration as secondary to medications taken for a kidney disorder is dismissed due to the duty to assist error and the subsequent issuance of a rating decision denying the claim on the merits.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus is denied because both conditions preexisted service and there was no evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that none of the listed causes were related to his military service and no service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The Board granted an effective date of August 29, 2024 for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to continuous pursuit of claims related to multiple service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted readjudication of the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and relevant evidence submitted since the June 2024 decision. The issues remain remanded.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for chronic kidney disease is dismissed due to an impermissible concurrent election between a higher-level review and a supplemental claim.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, fecal incontinence, and renal pelvic tumor are all granted. The prostate cancer is rated at 60 percent, the fecal incontinence as secondary to prostate cancer treatment, and the renal pelvic tumor as secondary to prostate cancer treatment.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery bypass graft s/p myocardial infarction, left leg amputation above the knee due to venous insufficiency, and kidney disorder. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound was also denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for right kidney cancer is denied, and his entitlement to special monthly compensation based on statutory housebound status from January 9, 2024, is also denied.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death while the appeal was pending.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease, stage 3, with anemia is granted as service connected due to exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate VA examinations and the need for further medical opinions regarding the Veteran's chronic kidney disease.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims for service connection due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. Specifically, records from his National Guard service and opinions regarding the etiology of his knee and kidney conditions are required.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury, peripheral vertigo, and dysarthria as moot due to a prior RO decision awarding these conditions. The claim of service connection for chronic kidney disease is remanded for further review.

The Veteran's kidney cancer, diagnosed as left renal cell carcinoma, is presumed to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. Service connection for this condition has been granted.

The Veteran's major neurocognitive disorder, including Alzheimer's disease and dementia (previously rated as cerebral manifestation residual of malaria infection), is now rated at the maximum 100 percent disability level effective June 27, 2024. The Veteran's CKD residual of malaria infection is also rated at the maximum 100 percent disability level effective June 27, 2024.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension due to herbicide exposure in Guam. The cause of death and DIC claims are remanded as the Veteran's hypertension may have caused or aggravated his other conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation based on the need of regular aid and attendance due to his psychiatric symptoms.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, and the Board finds that tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, anxiety disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and right knee disability are related to active service. The remaining issues remain pending.