The Veteran's kidney disability, including chronic renal disease and the need for a kidney transplant, is presumed to be due to his service in Vietnam and exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange).,His early-onset peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, as well as squamous cell carcinoma of the left lateral forehead, left hand, and left ear and external auricular canal, are also presumed to be related to his service and Agent Orange exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's medical records show a significant decline in kidney function shortly after discharge from service, which is consistent with his reported exposure to herbicide agents. The progression of his kidney disease aligns with the known effects of Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic renal disease, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity, early-onset peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity, squamous cell carcinoma of left lateral forehead, left hand, and left ear and external auricular canal, basal cell carcinoma of right upper chest, back, nose and other parts of face
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- May 16, 2022
- Citation
- 22028697
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 22028697.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- 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 was granted a TDIU effective November 10, 2014 due to service-connected PTSD and chronic renal disease preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused by or related to any disease or injury in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.
- Granted
The Board has restored service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and its associated lower extremity neuropathies as well as chronic renal disease due to the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Korea.
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