Kidney disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's hypertension and kidney disease did not worsen due to changes in medication by VA treating providers, and the Board found no additional disability resulting from such treatment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and providing a new opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's kidney dysfunction associated with a left nephrectomy is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board finds no evidence of impairment in function of the remaining kidney. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied the remaining issues on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions and thus denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, bladder disorder, asthma, or residuals of a cold injury to the ears.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault and ruled against the appellant.

The RO properly calculated the combined schedular disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected disabilities following increases in ratings for individual disabilities by a December 2010 rating decision, and he is not entitled to a higher combined rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused or hastened by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death listed is pulmonary hemorrhage, due to or as a consequence of coagulopathy, due to or as a consequence of end stage renal disease.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to February 4, 2011, rendered him unemployable from performing all forms of substantially gainful employment that are consistent with his education and occupational experience.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (ischemic bowel disorder) was not related to service or his service-connected disabilities. The other conditions contributing to death were also not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic kidney disease, diabetes with erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of multiple extremities, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for kidney stones in January 1990, effective September 1, 1989. He did not submit the required VA Form 21-686c within one year of receiving notification of his 30% disability rating, so he is not entitled to an earlier effective date for additional compensation based on a dependent spouse.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted a higher initial rating from 10% to 70%, effective June 24, 2008. The Veteran also received an increased disability rating for his old contusion of the right kidney.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for a VA opinion regarding his exposure to herbicides and the development of renal cell carcinoma, as well as the need for further consideration of secondary service connection issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney, finding that there was no evidence linking the cancer to his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cold injury residuals of the left and right feet, kidney disorder, and urinary condition. The decisions are based on a finding that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Veteran's kidney failure, which occurred after service and is not a presumptive radiation-related disease, was not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for rheumatoid arthritis and a kidney disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from various providers.

The Veteran's kidney stones were not diagnosed during his active duty or AGR service, and he does not have current disability. The Board denies the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, claimed as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, is being remanded for additional development including a VA examination and opinion.