Kidney disease decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded to the RO for further actions.

The Board found no evidence of exposure to ionizing radiation during service and concluded that the veteran's current respiratory, blood, and renal disorders are not related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for additional development to ensure all relevant medical records are obtained and reviewed, including VA and non-VA health care providers' records. The veteran will also be scheduled for a genitourinary examination.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal cell carcinoma is related to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's current kidney condition is not related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues, including the relationship between service-connected hypertension and a claimed kidney disease. The case is now remanded for additional consideration.

The Board has ordered further development due to pending issues, and the case is now being remanded for additional consideration.

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for renal failure and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of evidence showing that the veteran's death was caused by inadequate or negligent medical treatment at VA facilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected absent left kidney does not warrant a higher disability rating, and his claim for TDIU based on this condition is also denied.

The veteran's cause of death was congestive heart failure due to atherosclerotic heart disease. Other significant conditions contributing to his death were diaphragmatic myocardial infarction, chronic renal failure, hypothyroidism, and peripheral vascular disease. None of these conditions are service-connected.

The Board found that the appellant's character of discharge from service is a bar to VA compensation benefits. The appeal for benefits related to neurobehavioral problems, lung disease, cancer, liver and kidney disorders caused by toxic exposure was denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board dismissed the veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD due to his withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has determined that thyroid cancer and renal cell carcinoma were not incurred or aggravated during active service, including as a result of exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claims are therefore denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, finding no evidence linking the cause of death to military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of an injury, to include loss of a kidney and an incisional hernia, and PTSD. The evidence submitted since the July 1997 decision was found not to be new and material.

The Board has determined that no new and material evidence was received to reopen the claim for service connection for a kidney disorder (now claimed as kidney and bladder disorder). As such, the claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney stones, finding that the condition was incurred in service and resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the veteran.

The veteran's application for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) was denied because he did not meet the eligibility requirements for a specially adapted housing grant, which is a condition precedent to VMLI.