The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking his current kidney disorders to his active duty service or exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found no link between the Veteran's current kidney conditions and his active service, including any potential exposure to herbicide agents in the Republic of Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- kidney disorder, nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), neoplasm of the kidney (kidney cancer), cystic kidney disease, chronic renal disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 1, 2020
- Citation
- 20057870
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 20057870.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) is granted. The appeal of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is dismissed, as the claim was previously adjudicated and granted in a prior decision. The left knee Baker's cyst issue remains pending and requires further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 26, 2022, for a 10 percent rating for nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis with chronic UTIs is granted. The claim for an earlier effective date for the lumbar spine disability remains pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inconsistencies in the evidence regarding the presence and nature of current chronic kidney disability, its relationship to service, and whether there are additional residuals beyond those already service-connected. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a kidney disability that is not already covered by his existing service-connected conditions.
- Granted
The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) disability, which manifested with requiring invasive or non-invasive procedures more than two times per year from August 1, 2022, is granted an increased rating of 30 percent effective August 1, 2022.
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