Kidney disease decisions — 2009

The Board remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension, kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction to obtain an opinion on whether these conditions were caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected diabetes.

The Board denied service connection for the removal of one kidney as it was not caused or aggravated by in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board remands the case to obtain additional evidence and provide an examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's lupus erythematosus and whether it is related to service or caused/aggravated his kidney disease.

The appeal is remanded to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction for further development and readjudication.

The Veteran's recurrent renal calculi was rated at 10 percent prior to May 18, 2007 and increased to 30 percent effective that date.

The Board granted service connection for renal cancer, status post nephrectomy, left kidney, based on the evidence suggesting a possible link to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied service connection for joint pain and bone spurs, hair loss, skin disability, gynecological disability, psychiatric disability (other than PTSD), impaired vision, bilateral knee disability, kidney disability, and chronic fatigue syndrome as there was no evidence of a chronic disability present in service or etiologically related to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a chronic kidney disorder.

The Board denied an increased rating in excess of 30 percent for the Veteran's history of epilepsy residuals from head trauma, as there was no evidence of a major seizure in the last six months or two in the last year, or averaging at least five to eight minor seizures weekly.

The Board remands the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the current nature and likely etiology of any kidney problems.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for prostate cancer and renal failure, as well as his attempt to reopen a claim of service connection for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 100 percent to 60 percent for the Veteran's service-connected kidney transplant disability was properly executed, but also granted a 80% rating beginning June 1, 2005.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support higher ratings or establish service connection.

The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence was against service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, kidney disease, liver disease, and hypertension for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, renal tuberculosis or other renal pathology, and residuals of a back injury.

The Board remands the case for a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fatal adenocarcinoma of the kidney, considering in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board denied service connection for thyroid gland, enlarged prostate, saliva gland, and kidney disabilities as they are not related to the Veteran's military service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's depression is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected tinnitus. The claim for chronic renal cell carcinoma residuals with post-radical nephrectomy residuals remains pending.

The Board denied service connection for a knee disorder, kidney disorder (nephritis), headaches, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as new and material evidence was not received to reopen the claims or there was no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a urological condition, including urethral stricture, recurrent urinary tract infections, and kidney disorder, as there was no evidence of such conditions during service or within one year of separation, and no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.