Kidney disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which the VA did not find service-connected. The Board determined that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's service or any previously service-connected condition to his death.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, renal failure secondary to an infection due to pancytopenia and acute granulocytic leukemia, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by any service-connected disability. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claimed conditions and determined that they are not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer, skin cancer, and partial removal of the colon are not related to his military service at Camp Lejeune. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's appeal for a second addendum from the examiner to address whether his service-connected panic disorder with agoraphobia and generalized anxiety disorder caused or aggravated his claimed conditions, diabetes mellitus and kidney disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and a kidney disorder, as well as his requests for increased ratings for various disabilities, were denied. The Veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to January 29, 2010.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for the Veteran's kidney disability, sinus disability, hypertension, back disability, multiple joint disability (including arthritis), and acquired psychiatric disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for liver and kidney disabilities due to potential issues with the examination report, missing STRs, and additional evidence needed.

The Veteran's medical services at Naples Community Hospital from February 25, 2010 to March 5, 2010 were not authorized in advance and the Board found that he was stable for transfer to a VA facility on February 25, 2010. As such, reimbursement was denied.

The Veteran's net worth does not constitute a bar to receipt of nonservice-connected pension benefits due to his and his wife's current financial situation, life expectancy, and health status.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence and the need for an additional VA medical opinion. The issue remains whether he should be granted service connection for a kidney disorder, which may be secondary to his service-connected prostatitis.

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

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be COPD, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's diabetes or other conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year post-service, and that they were not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service connection for any of his claimed conditions, and thus denied all claims based on direct service connection. The appellant's death was attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability is being remanded due to the addition of service-connected disabilities since his last examination, and the need for further examinations.

The Board denied service connection for a back disability, bruised kidney, and pneumonitis. The Veteran did not have chronic low back symptoms in service or continuous low back symptoms since service separation. A currently diagnosed low back disability is not related to service. The Veteran did not exhibit symptoms or a disability related to a kidney disorder in service. A currently diagnosed kidney disorder is not etiologically related to service. The Veteran was treated for an acute episode of pneumonitis in service which resolved. The Veteran does not have currently diagnosed pneumonitis.

The Veteran's focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with chronic renal insufficiency and hypertension was granted an initial 60 percent disability rating from June 24, 2004 to May 7, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's renal insufficiency and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were not related to his service or service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cervical spine, lumbar spine, and kidney disabilities were not incurred in or aggravated by service.