Kidney disease decisions — 2008

The Board has granted service connection for cirrhosis of the liver as secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus. The remaining claims are remanded for further development.

The veteran died of metastatic renal carcinoma, which the VA medical opinion found was not related to his service. The appellant claimed that prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II contributed to his death.,The veteran did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death or die as a result of a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability for his claimed back disorder, renal carcinoma (kidney disorder), or Gulf War Syndrome. The evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.,There is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current kidney disorder to active service.

The Board found that the cause of death, metastatic renal cell cancer, was not service-connected and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his active service and have denied each claim.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding no evidence linking his conditions to his military service or exposure to chemical dioxins.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by VA treatment and denied DIC benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic headaches, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness. The claim for a compensable evaluation for recurrent kidney stones is remanded.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal cell carcinoma is not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a presumption of service connection based on herbicide exposure or direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development to determine if the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic renal failure and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The veteran's claimed disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis and orthopedic conditions affecting the left knee and right foot, colon polyps, Peyronie's disease, kidney stones, inguinal hernias, and cataracts, were not found to be related to his service or exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, low back pain, and kidney disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were also denied.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected and he did not have a permanent service-connected disability at the time of his death, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore the claims for service connection for the cause of death, burial benefits, and accrued benefits are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA medical records and providing additional VCAA notice.

The Board found that the cause of death was not due to service or VA treatment, and denied the DIC claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, joint aches and pains, and kidney stones due to an undiagnosed illness were denied. His right thumb disability was rated as noncompensable prior to September 22, 2005, but granted a 10% rating beginning that date.

The Board found that the veteran's polycystic kidney disease, hypertension, and chronic renal insufficiency with albuminuria do not warrant a disability rating greater than 30 percent.