Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's kidney removal was not due to service, and the low back disability does not warrant a higher rating.,The left knee disability is already rated at its highest possible level of 10 percent.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, including nephrolithiasis and chronic UTIs, was not incurred or aggravated during her active military service. The Board finds no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and her period of service.

The Board found no evidence of service connection for any of the claimed conditions, including diabetes mellitus presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's service records do not show any treatment or diagnosis related to these conditions during his military service.

The Veteran's combined rating for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident is granted at 100 percent, effective June 1, 2008. The Veteran also meets the criteria for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for a kidney disorder and found that the Veteran's headaches warrant a rating higher than 10 percent. The appeal is remanded to obtain private treatment records from neurosurgeons Dr. W.C. and Dr. P., and to provide an updated VA medical examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was not caused or contributed to by any disability incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Appellant does not meet the eligibility requirements for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis with proteinuria, anemia, renal osteodystrophy associated with hypertension, coronary artery disease associated with hypertension, hypertension, erectile dysfunction associated with hypertension, preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic renal insufficiency as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate conditions, kidney stones, hematuria, urinary tract infection, cystitis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), and headaches. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these disabilities and his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension began during military service and is therefore granted as service-connected.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona from January 13, 2011 to January 21, 2011 was approved due to his service-connected total disability permanent in nature and the unavailability of VA facilities that could have provided appropriate care.

The Board found that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma/nephrectomy was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by such service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no competent or probative evidence establishing a link between any current disability and the Veteran's active duty service.

The Veteran's chronic lymphocytic leukemia is presumed to be associated with herbicide exposure. The squamous-cell carcinoma of the penis, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, kidney stones, and kidney cyst are not presumed to be related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have confirmed exposure to herbicides during service, and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for any of the claimed conditions. The claims were denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and requests for additional information.

The Veteran's right ear hearing loss is not related to service, including as a residual of a shrapnel wound. The left kidney disability (Renal cell carcinoma) is not presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in service and is not otherwise related to service.,Service connection has already been granted for pain associated with the shrapnel wound. There is no dispute of law or fact as to this issue.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for malaria residuals and kidney disorder have been granted. The Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his military service in the Republic of Vietnam.