Kidney disease decisions — 2008

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, effective from August 23, 2007. The veteran's claim is denied prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, was not caused by any incident of service, including exposure to contaminants at Fort Sheridan Army Base. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions or due to radiation exposure in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, finding that the veteran's condition is related to his active military service and supported by evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea during the Vietnam era.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The veteran's claims for service connection and SMC were denied due to the lack of evidence showing a direct link between his conditions and his military service. The claim for PTSD was granted, but not at an increased rate.

The veteran is seeking compensation for additional disabilities of kidney stones, multiple urinary tract infections, prostate hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation with sick sinus syndrome with pacemaker status post-atrioventricular nodal ablation, and dementia, claimed to be as a result of medical treatment he received at the West Palm Beach VAMC. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to her conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected hypertension and his death, as well as additional development of evidence related to the cause of death.

The Board has granted an initial 30 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of kidney stones effective from July 9, 2004.

The veteran's cause of death was not related to military service, including exposure to radiation. The Board found no evidence linking the causes of his death (acute renal failure and other conditions) to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that none of them were incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's left kidney removal was not due to VA care, but rather his own behavior and substance abuse. The Board denied the claim as there is no evidence of additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board found no evidence of in-service injury or disease related to the veteran's low back disability and denied service connection. The right kidney removal was also not connected to military service.

The veteran's PTSD was granted service connection based on in-service stressors. The kidney disorder is pending as it requires additional evidence to establish a link between the condition and service, such as new medical evidence or supporting testimony. Lung disorder remains pending.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death was intra-abdominal sepsis due to a perforated duodenal ulcer.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his service-connected knee conditions, pancreas condition, diabetes mellitus, low back condition, kidney condition, prostate condition, neck condition, left wrist condition, right wrist condition, colon/intestine condition, and left hip condition. The veteran was also denied service connection for a bladder condition and a stomach disorder.

The Board determined that the veteran's cause of death, widely metastatic renal cell carcinoma, was not service-connected and denied the claim.

The veteran withdrew her appeals, indicating she was satisfied with the current ratings and felt unable to prove entitlement to higher ratings.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of medical opinion regarding whether lung cancer was or was not a contributing cause of the veteran's death. The appellant argues that lung cancer may have been the primary site of the veteran's cancer, making it a contributory cause of his death.