{"page":"https://casescribe.ai/explorer/secondary/kidney-disease-secondary-to-hypertension","generated_at":"2026-10-03T18:34:30.212Z","data_as_of":{"decisions":944125,"first_year":2017,"last_year":2026,"latest_decision":"2026-04-30","cfr":"2026-10-01","m21":"2026-09-29"},"about":{"publisher":"CaseScribe AI (VA Law Explorer)","source":"Public Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions (appeals of VA decisions, not VA's first decisions), M21-1 Adjudication Procedures Manual, 38 CFR Parts 3 and 4.","method":"Outcomes are issue-level: each condition the Board decided in a decision counts once. Decision data is extracted by AI and can contain errors. Rates describe past appeals and do not predict any claim.","disclaimer":"For research only. CaseScribe AI is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. Verify figures against the source decisions and regulations.","attribution":"Cite as: VA Law Explorer, CaseScribe AI, with the page URL."},"data":{"claim":"Kidney disease secondary to hypertension","secondary_condition":"Kidney disease","service_connected_disability":"hypertension","decisions":563,"years":"2017-2026","granted_pct":37.3,"denied_pct":15.8,"remanded_pct":46.4,"granted_on_merits_pct":70.2,"by_year":[{"year":2018,"issues":41,"granted_pct":22,"denied_pct":29.3,"remanded_pct":46.3},{"year":2019,"issues":49,"granted_pct":22.4,"denied_pct":22.4,"remanded_pct":55.1},{"year":2020,"issues":51,"granted_pct":25.5,"denied_pct":13.7,"remanded_pct":60.8},{"year":2021,"issues":56,"granted_pct":39.3,"denied_pct":10.7,"remanded_pct":48.2},{"year":2022,"issues":64,"granted_pct":32.8,"denied_pct":17.2,"remanded_pct":48.4},{"year":2023,"issues":78,"granted_pct":42.3,"denied_pct":15.4,"remanded_pct":41},{"year":2024,"issues":78,"granted_pct":55.1,"denied_pct":12.8,"remanded_pct":32.1},{"year":2025,"issues":97,"granted_pct":39.2,"denied_pct":14.4,"remanded_pct":46.4},{"year":2026,"issues":32,"granted_pct":43.8,"denied_pct":6.3,"remanded_pct":50}],"benefit_of_doubt_in_grants_pct":70.5,"evidence_on_merits":[{"evidence":"va_exam_favorable","decisions_with":93,"granted_pct_with":90.7,"granted_pct_without":63.4},{"evidence":"va_exam_unfavorable","decisions_with":434,"granted_pct_with":66.9,"granted_pct_without":84.2},{"evidence":"nexus_positive","decisions_with":166,"granted_pct_with":91.6,"granted_pct_without":53.6},{"evidence":"nexus_negative","decisions_with":339,"granted_pct_with":66.3,"granted_pct_without":76.8},{"evidence":"private_opinion","decisions_with":231,"granted_pct_with":77.1,"granted_pct_without":63},{"evidence":"treating_physician","decisions_with":59,"granted_pct_with":88.6,"granted_pct_without":67.1},{"evidence":"lay_statement","decisions_with":368,"granted_pct_with":63.1,"granted_pct_without":88.2}],"top_reasons":{"granted":[{"reason":"caused by the service-connected disability","decisions":44},{"reason":"service connection established","decisions":29},{"reason":"current diagnosis established","decisions":29},{"reason":"service connection for hypertension granted","decisions":6},{"reason":"chronic kidney disease diagnosed","decisions":5},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":4}],"denied":[{"reason":"va examiner: less likely than not related to service","decisions":13},{"reason":"service records negative or silent","decisions":7},{"reason":"hypertension not service-connected","decisions":7},{"reason":"preponderance of the evidence against the claim","decisions":7},{"reason":"no current diagnosis","decisions":7},{"reason":"aggravated by the service-connected disability","decisions":5}]},"recent_examples":{"granted":[{"case_id":"A26039359","year":2026,"judge":"COLLEEN M. GLASER-ALLEN","rationale":"Private cardiologist opined Fabry's disease aggravated by hypertension.; Rationale cited NIH studies supporting correlation.; Opinion found adequate and probative for secondary connection."},{"case_id":"A26037582","year":2026,"judge":"A. J. SPECTOR","rationale":"Secondary to hypertension; Resolved doubt in Veteran's favor; Favorable private medical opinion"},{"case_id":"A26034582","year":2026,"judge":"PAUL SORISIO","rationale":"Current diagnosis of chronic kidney disease established.; Service-connected hypertension established.; Medical opinion from treating nephrologist links kidney disease to hypertension.; VA examiner opinions were less probative due to speculation.; Evidence found in approximate balance, benefit of dou… [truncated, 11 chars omitted]"}],"denied":[{"case_id":"26002713","year":2026,"judge":"D. SMART","rationale":"No in-service diagnosis or treatment for kidney condition.; Veteran's testimony of symptoms post-service considered.; Multiple VA opinions reviewed; most afforded low probative value.; November 2025 opinion afforded high probative value, linking condition to comorbidities, not service."},{"case_id":"A26009352","year":2026,"judge":"CORY M. PICTON","rationale":"Hypertension not service-connected, precluding secondary claim; No in-service complaints, treatment, or diagnosis; First evidence of condition years after service"},{"case_id":"A25108287","year":2025,"judge":"L. B. CRYAN","rationale":"Lack of in-service complaints or treatment for kidney disease; First diagnosis of kidney disease in 2005; VA examiner opined kidney disease less likely than not due to hypertension or TERAs; VA opinion found persuasive"}]},"how_argued":{"note":"From keyword matches in each issue's AI summary and rationale, not the full decision. Only issues whose text names a medical link are counted under pathways; one issue can name several. A link named in a denial was often the argument the Board rejected.","issues":565,"aggravation_discussed":{"issues":130,"granted_pct":20},"causation_only":{"issues":435,"granted_pct":42.3},"issues_naming_a_pathway_pct":2.1,"pathways":[]},"how_va_rates":null,"requirements":"38 CFR 3.310: a current diagnosis, a service-connected disability, and medical evidence that it caused (3.310(a)) or aggravated (3.310(b)) the condition."}}