Kidney disease decisions — 2009

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral pes planus was aggravated during service and a left ankle disability was incurred in service. The other conditions were not established as being related to service.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities were not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board denied service connection for a blood disorder and kidney condition, both claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The evidence did not support the claims.

The Board has determined that a chronic kidney disability was not incurred or aggravated by active duty, or ACDUTRA. The Veteran's condition is considered to have been stable during the periods of service and ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple service connection claims for various conditions, including hepatitis C, abdominal disability, head injury/concussion, eye injury/abrasion, black widow spider bite, and asbestos exposure-related disabilities. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examinations.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, status post nephrectomy with pulmonary metastasis is being remanded for further evaluation due to potential Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's kidney stones are not related to his service or any service-connected condition. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to his claimed anxiety disorder, hypertension, familial tremor, and IBS (abdominal muscle spasms).

The Board is remanding the case for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death from end-stage renal disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a VA examination.

The Veteran's renal carcinoma was not incurred in service and is not presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder, which began during service and contributed to his death, was found to be service-connected. The appellant is not eligible for special monthly death pension based upon the need of regular aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney failure and neuropathy, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim for kidney failure and denying service connection for neuropathy.

The Veteran is seeking benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for acute renal failure, swelling/puffiness of the complete left side of the body, and blocked urine, which he claims are due to VA care or treatment. The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to address these issues.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic renal disease and hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need to consider additional evidence, including recent treatment records from a private physician. A VA examination is also required to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency, associated with recovered acute meningitis, did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent from December 17, 1999 to November 14, 2008.

The Veteran's kidney disorder and gynecomastia are not deemed to be caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The issues of service connection for heart disease and hypertension as secondary to PTSD and special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hyperthyroidism, heart disease, gouty arthritis, and kidney disability were denied as there was no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after his military service. The Board found that the preponderance of the evidence did not support a finding of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing the Veteran with appropriate VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.