Kidney disease decisions — 2012

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities is 100%, which meets the criteria for a TDIU rating. The evidence shows that his service-connected conditions have prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and renal disorder are not service connected as they did not begin during active service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence showing a connection to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to verify his periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA in the Army Reserves. The VA will obtain these records and provide a supplemental statement of the case if any benefit sought remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's additional renal, eye, and pulmonary disabilities were not caused by VA medical care or treatment. The decision concludes that any such disabilities are not related to the medication prescribed at the VAMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma, both claimed as due to herbicide exposure, were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have verified active service in Vietnam or Korea during a period when herbicides like Agent Orange may have been used.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the nature of his psychiatric and kidney disabilities.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus with renal insufficiency is currently rated as 20 percent disabling. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for his diabetes, and there are no compensable complications such as renal insufficiency or retinopathy to warrant an increased rating.

The Board denied service connection for renal tuberculosis, miliary tuberculosis, and tuberculosis meningitis in May 1983. The Veteran submitted new evidence since then that relates to an unestablished fact (his symptoms during and after service) but does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder, hair loss, right temple skin disorder (claimed as sore), PTSD due to an in-service personal assault, and other psychological disorders. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran claims that his right temple skin disorder is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. He also seeks service connection for a respiratory disorder and hair loss. The appeal is remanded for further development regarding these issues.,The Veteran asserts that he has hair loss due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service. He also claims PTSD as the result of an in-service personal assault. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran contends that his PTSD is related to a personal assault during service and seeks service connection for this condition, along with other psychological disorders. The appeal is remanded for further development.,The Veteran claims service connection for a psychological disorder other than PTSD (anxiety and depression), nephrolithiasis, residuals of a circumcision, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and an eye disorder. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for further development.,The Veteran claims service connection for an eye disorder. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.,The Veteran asserts that he has residuals of a circumcision, including erectile dysfunction. Other conditions are also on appeal. The appeal is remanded for additional development.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence. The claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits was also denied as the Veteran did not have qualifying service for this benefit.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as the conditions at issue are not found to be related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's disabilities are caused by or complications of his diabetes mellitus. The appeal will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of his claims, including seeking inpatient treatment records from Long Beach Naval Hospital and his personnel file.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for meningitis, migraine headaches, kidney disorder, and grand mal seizures, all claimed as secondary to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The case must be remanded to obtain additional VA treatment records and determine the appropriate disposition of his claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and to schedule him for a VA examination to determine the etiology of his erectile dysfunction and any lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, and diabetic retinopathy as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The appeal was not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus is etiologically related to his service, and hypertension with hypertensive renal insufficiency was incurred in active service. The claim for hypercholesterolemia is denied as it does not constitute a disease or disability for which VA benefits can be granted.

The Board granted service connection for a low back disability secondary to service-connected gunshot wound residuals, but denied service connection for a kidney disability due to the lack of evidence showing it was related to service.

The Veteran's kidney and urinary tract disabilities are not service connected as they were either congenital or unrelated to his service-connected Scheuermann's disease with secondary HNP. The TDIU claim is also denied.