Kidney disease decisions — 2011

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss, diabetes mellitus (due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam), and erectile dysfunction as secondary to coronary artery disease. Service connection is denied for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities and kidney disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a vision disability, respiratory disorder, and kidney stones residuals were denied. The claim for hypokalemia was also denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if his myelofibrosis cancer and renal failure are related to presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected left thigh gunshot wound contributed substantially or material to his death due to renal failure, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for accrued benefits due to a lack of evidence showing that any service-connected conditions contributed to his death.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death is not related to service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected malaria, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA and private treatment records, as well as a Statement of the Case on the earlier effective date issue.

The Veteran's lung disorder and bilateral kidney disorder are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right kidney disability and thus service connection for a right kidney disorder is denied. The left kidney condition, if present, may be related to military service including in-service radiation exposure.

The Board denied service connection for liver and kidney disabilities, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a nexus between any diagnosed conditions and service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left renal cell carcinoma, right renal cyst, and abnormal liver function as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, renal cell carcinoma, was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, bladder stones, kidney stones, and a urinary tract disability. The issues of severance of service connection for right knee meniscectomy residuals were also addressed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his ability to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities. Additional medical records and Social Security Administration records are needed.

The Veteran is unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment as a result of his service-connected disabilities, which include PTSD, splenectomy residuals, low back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and kidney stones. The Board finds that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran's service-connected conditions prevent him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted as of September 1, 2000, the date her application for increased compensation was received.

The Board has determined that the appellant's kidney injury during service did not result in a current disability and is not related to his service. Therefore, service connection for the residuals of an injury to the kidneys is denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) on the basis of need for aid and attendance of another person, or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including a VA Compensation and Pension Examination to determine if there is a prostate disability related to service. The Veteran's request for a hearing at the RO or Central Office will be considered.