Kidney disease decisions — 2004

The veteran's claims for service connection for Type II diabetes mellitus and a kidney disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential herbicide exposure in Thailand.

The veteran seeks service connection for kidney failure with dialysis. The claim is remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence regarding his disability history from 1969 onwards.

The veteran's initial evaluation for diabetes mellitus was denied as it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The claim for service connection of a kidney condition was also denied, with no indication that the condition is related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for hypertension, residuals of kidney trauma, and PTSD due to lack of new and material evidence for the hypertension claim. The other issues were not addressed as they did not involve service connection.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The veteran is seeking service connection for renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney, which he claims was caused by exposure to carbon tetrachloride or asbestos during his military service. The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran was exposed to these substances and whether such exposure is related to his condition.

The veteran's claim for service connection for genitourinary cancer (transitional cell carcinoma) of the bladder and left kidney is being remanded due to a need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a kidney disorder. The issue is now on its merits.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired heart disorder and increased ratings for kidney stones were denied. The veteran was granted a 30 percent evaluation for his kidney stones in June 1997, but this rating was later reduced to 10 percent effective April 1, 2002.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for back disability and remanded it for further development. The claims of service connection for hypertension and renal disability are also being remanded.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim, finding that the veteran's cause of death was due to nicotine dependence which began in service and contributed to his development of renal cell cancer.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, including associated conditions such as heart attack, kidney condition, and eye/vision condition, due to a lack of evidence showing exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board denied the veteran's request for revision of a final rating decision denying service connection for nephritis, finding no clear and unmistakable error. The claim for an earlier effective date for service connection was not granted.

The Board has dismissed the appellant's appeals due to her failure to respond to requests for evidence within one year, resulting in the abandonment of her claims.

The Board determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's fatal conditions to service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records from a military hospital and providing VCAA notice.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for calculus of the right kidney and abscesses of the perirectal region, finding that there was no evidence of increased nephrological or genitourinary symptomatology warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the case must be remanded to the RO for further development and consideration, including determining the validity of the veteran's debt and adjudicating his request for a waiver.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or contributed to his death from cancer.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions and denied the claims for accrued benefits and nonservice-connected death pension.