The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. He was granted a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied a separate compensable rating for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran served in Camp Lejeune and his kidney cancer is presumed to be related to exposure to contaminated water at that location. His diabetic peripheral neuropathy was found to be mild with no functional limitations, warranting a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for the bilateral lower extremities.
- Claimed conditions
- kidney cancer
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104756
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,886 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19104756.
What this means for you
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Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for kidney cancer and chronic kidney disease due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ is required to conduct further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion from a qualified VA examiner regarding the Veteran's exposure to in-service toxic exposures involving fire smoke.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney cancer and lung cancer due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his kidney cancer, which is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The claim for lung cancer is inextricably intertwined with the kidney cancer claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinions regarding secondary service connection for kidney cancer, specifically whether it is aggravated by service-connected hypertension and diabetes. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with new medical opinions addressing this issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining medical opinions and private treatment records.
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