Kidney disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C and kidney stones were denied. The Board found no evidence of current diagnoses or treatment related to these conditions during the appeal period.,There is insufficient medical evidence to establish a current disability in either condition, and the Veteran did not provide competent medical evidence to support his assertions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issues related to service connection for kidney stones, also claimed as kidney pain; a chronic prostate disorder; skin rashes; brittle nails; a chronic bladder disorder; a chronic neurological disorder of the arms and legs; a headache disorder; sinusitis and allergies; gastroesophageal reflux disease; and stomach cancer, also claimed as cancerous polyps in the colon and a cancerous tumor in the duodenum.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disorder, including left hydronephrosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not due to a service-connected disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran's partial nephrectomy and renal mass are not related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The preponderance of evidence shows that these conditions were present many years after separation from service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including additional VA examinations and consideration of his service connection claims.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or housebound status is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination considering his current condition and service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right inguinal hernia, chronic bilateral foot disorder (claimed as bunion/hallux valgus), bilateral cataracts, bilateral glaucoma, and benign bilateral adrenal neoplasms due to lack of current disability evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional information and evidence, including service personnel records and VA clinical records. The Veteran will also be scheduled for examinations to assess the severity of his left knee disability and any aggravation of other disabilities by his service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition and bilateral foot disability have been denied. The denial is based on the absence of evidence showing an in-service injury or disease, and no current disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his claimed conditions and whether they are related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a seizure disorder and to reopen his claim for right renal mass. The evidence received since the July 2006 rating decision did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right kidney cancer and hemorrhoids, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between his current conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed genitourinary disability manifested by frequent urination.,While the record contains abnormal lab results, there is no evidence of chronic impaired renal function.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death was due to right renal carcinoma, which is not service-connected. The lung cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service but did not contribute to his death.

The Board denied service connection for left foot and ankle disorders, as well as kidney disorder. The Veteran's left foot fracture was found to be incurred in service, but his left ankle disorder and kidney disorder were not shown to have been caused by any in-service event.

The Board found that the Veteran's headaches, kidney pain, chest pain, abdominal pain, tremors, and dermatitis are not disabilities eligible for service connection or have not been shown to be related to TCE exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right shoulder disability is not due to or aggravated by his service-connected left shoulder disability. The claims for service connection for left kidney, adrenal gland, left testicle, and sleep apnea disabilities have been denied as there is no evidence of record supporting their etiology.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA disability benefits records and reconsidering the issues on appeal.