Kidney disease decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, PAD, AAA, and DM were found to be a likely contributing factor in his death. The Veteran was granted DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon and kidney cancers are not related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claims for service connection have been denied.

The claims of service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, kidney cancer, bilateral hand tremors, and right great toe injury are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies in the prior rating decisions. The Veteran will be provided with VCAA notice regarding these issues.

The Veteran's medical expenses incurred on January 30, 2010 for emergency treatment of kidney cancer, bilateral hand tremors, and right great toe injury are granted as reimbursement or payment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not service-connected, with no evidence of a direct connection to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's renal clear cell carcinoma and promyelocytic leukemia are found to be related to exposure to helicopter fuels and herbicides during service. Bilateral hearing loss is not shown in the record during service or within one year of discharge, and no other connection to service is shown.

The Board has remanded these claims for further development due to a request for a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's service connection claims are pending.

The Board denied service connection for sebaceous cysts, peripheral neuropathy, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia (B-12 deficiency), and kidney disability. The claims were reopened on new evidence but the service connection was not granted.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete records and a need for an adequate medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death. The appellant contends that his service-connected PTSD contributed to his fatal cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, cardio-respiratory arrest and congestive heart failure, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially to his death by any service-connected disability. The medical evidence did not establish a direct link between the Veteran's in-service gunshot wound and his later-developed cardiovascular and renal conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and other conditions such as kidney, bladder, and bilateral foot disorders. The Veteran's current diagnoses are supported by medical evidence linking these conditions to her military service.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent effective October 27, 2008. The appeal for a higher rating remains pending.,There is no evidence of kidney disease or hypertension during service or within one year post-service. Neither condition is linked to service-connected conditions and there is insufficient evidence to establish a connection with depleted uranium exposure.

The Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a service-connected disability. The kidney cancer that led to his death is not related to his military service.

The VA granted service connection for cysts of the right kidney, but assigned a noncompensable rating. The Veteran's cysts are currently asymptomatic and do not affect his daily life or work.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal disease, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam did not cause his conditions. The Board also found that the Veteran's death was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing the Veteran with a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the Veteran's service dates and type of service during her unverified Reserve service. The case will be returned for further review after this development is completed.

The Veteran's lung cancer and liver metastasis were not found to be related to his service-connected conditions, including schizophrenia. The Board determined that the cause of death was not attributable to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's skin disorders, hypertension, chronic liver disease, and renal disease are all found to be related to his service in the Gulf War. The effective dates for these conditions have not been established.