Kidney disease decisions — 2008

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II is granted as presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The remaining claims for secondary conditions are remanded.

The Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence shows that the veteran's death was not related to any in-service disease or injury, and denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for kidney stones and ureteral calculi, but found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for anxiety disorder.

The Board remands the claims for service connection to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The Board remands the veteran's claims for service connection of chronic left knee disability, low back disability, adrenal gland disorder, orthopedic disability manifested by multiple joint aches and pains, and chronic disability manifested by multiple muscle aches to the RO for additional development.

The veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, residuals of fractured ribs, left hip and right fifth finger disabilities, a peptic ulcer, hypertension, an upper respiratory infection, renal failure, hyperlipidemia and gastroenteritis were denied as the evidence did not show that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The appeal is remanded to obtain the veteran's service medical records and a medical opinion regarding the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as it was not shown to be related to active service or Agent Orange exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes, arthritis, and a kidney condition were reopened but ultimately denied.

The appeal was remanded for additional development, including obtaining new medical examinations and opinions regarding the veteran's claims of service connection for blood disorders, kidney conditions, and skin conditions as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disability, sinusitis, and residuals of mononucleosis due to the lack of current diagnoses.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right knee, left knee, and kidney stone disabilities are being remanded to provide the veteran with proper notice under 38 U.S.C.A. § 5103(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 3.159, as well as to obtain a new VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, schizophrenia (previously evaluated as a personality disorder), bilateral tinnitus, low back disability, left ankle disability, chronic kidney failure, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, Type II, finding no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation and no medical nexus to service.

The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, peripheral neuropathy of the hands and feet, kidney disorder, right knee disorder, right ankle disorder, and tinnitus as there is no competent evidence linking any of these conditions to active service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran does not have a sleep disorder or kidney disorder that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service.

The veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal to the December 29, 2004 rating decision in which service connection for hypoglycemia was denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disorder and muscle damage to the right flank were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities related to his military service. The claim for TDIU was also denied.

The veteran was entitled to special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance, for accrued benefits purposes, due to his service-connected multiple myeloma rendering him permanently bedridden.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell cancer of the left kidney, cancer of the eye, nose, and head, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as they were not shown to be related to his military service, including asbestos exposure.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a prostate disability, high blood pressure, and kidney disability were denied as there was no evidence of current disabilities or a nexus to his period of active service.