Kidney disease decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for service connection for urolithiasis with chronic renal insufficiency is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected post-traumatic arthritis of the knees did not cause or contribute to his death, and therefore denied service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's death was attributed to squamous cell bladder cancer, but the Board found insufficient evidence to determine if this cancer began during service or was related to exposure to Agent Orange. The primary site of the fatal cancer and whether it was aggravated by a pre-existing condition need further clarification.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his service-connected disabilities, and therefore denied both the claim for service connection for cause of death and eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35.

The veteran's service connection claims for residuals of exposure to Agent Orange are granted, with a 30 percent evaluation effective from March 11, 2003.

The Board has determined that the appellant's kidney disorder is a result of or proximately due to his service-connected low back disability.

The veteran's service connection claims for various conditions are granted, with the exception of a gynecological disorder.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional medical records and determine if service connection for the cause of the veteran's death should be granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malignant melanoma and a kidney disorder, both claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure. The medical evidence did not establish current diagnoses of these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for a renal cyst and the initial grant of service connection for testicular carcinoma residuals with a right radical orchiectomy. The claim for an increased rating for small bowel obstruction was also denied.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes, hypertension, and end-stage renal disease did not develop during his active service or are otherwise related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to assess the veteran's service-connected PTSD and the claimed abdominal disorder, right renal calculi, left renal cyst, tinea corporis, and tinea cruris.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, kidney disorder, and sinusitis due to Agent Orange exposure. The veteran was not shown to have sarcoma of the back of the mouth or peptic ulcer disease secondary to PTSD.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by his service-connected Legg-Perthe's disease of right hip, and there is no evidence of a nexus between any other condition listed on his death certificate (including diabetes) and his military service. As such, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death was denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have legal entitlement to VA benefits due to a lack of recognized military service, and thus, his claim for basic eligibility is denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for gastro-intestinal bleeding and renal problems, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected bilateral pes planus. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the need to obtain SSA records and address the veteran's claim for Social Security Administration disability benefits.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected renal calculi does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it did not meet the criteria for more severe conditions such as recurrent stone formations requiring frequent invasive or non-invasive procedures.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for kidney cancer, claimed as due to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no evidence of a direct relationship between his current condition and his military service.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the cause of death and the etiology of the veteran's health conditions, including hypertension and renal failure. The appellant is asked to clarify if her husband was exposed to ionizing radiation during service.