The Veteran's kidney failure and removal of the hydronephrotic right kidney were not incurred or aggravated by his military service, as there is no evidence of relevant injury during active duty. The Board found that the condition was likely congenital and not related to any trauma.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence linking the Veteran's kidney failure and removal to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- kidney failure, hydronephrotic right kidney
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2019
- Citation
- 19187800
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,020 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19187800.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and kidney failure. The AOJ is required to consider this new evidence in deciding these claims.
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The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and kidney failure due to potential exposure to herbicides during service. The appellant must provide a new TERA memorandum addressing his claimed exposure, specifically considering the January 2024 Gagetown Commission Report.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding his claimed conditions and their relationship to service. The AOJ will obtain a medical opinion on whether the Veteran has residuals of rhabdomyolysis, as well as readjudicate all issues related to service connection.
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