The Veteran's initial rating claim for hypothyroidism was denied. The claims of entitlement to an initial compensable disability rating for service-connected hypertension and service connection for chronic kidney disease as secondary to hypertension were remanded due to the failure to consider VA treatment records from 2014-2020 and a lack of opinion regarding whether the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is related to his hypertension.
The deciding factor: The claims are being remanded because the RO failed to obtain and review VA treatment records prior to July 2023, which may have contained relevant information for evaluating the Veteran's hypertension and its complications. Additionally, a medical opinion was not provided regarding whether the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is secondary to his service-connected hypertension.
- Claimed conditions
- hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2023
- Citation
- A23036652
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 A23036652.
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease, effective January 30, 1998. The decision is based on newly associated service treatment records that were not previously considered in the original denial of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for hypothyroidism is denied, and the Board finds that service connection for lumbar degenerative disc disease and bilateral foot condition should be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
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