Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Board has granted the application to reopen the claim of service connection for enuresis. The case is being remanded to consider the underlying merits of the claim, including a lack of consideration of the Veteran's lay testimony.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the need for medical opinions regarding service connection and rating issues. The Veteran's renal disability is being evaluated, as well as his low back disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Ocala Regional Medical Center from August 7 to August 12, 2013 are denied as he does not have an adjudicated service-connected disability and was covered by a health-plan contract.

The Board has determined that an effective date of February 26, 1999 is warranted for the grant of service connection and SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to PTSD and diabetes.

The Board has determined that the appellant's death makes it impossible to proceed with the appeal, as jurisdiction is no longer in the Board's hands.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, incontinence, and kidney stones were not found to be related to his service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the Veteran's urethra disability, including bladder and bowel incontinence, was not caused by VA surgical treatment in 1963 and 1972. The Veteran's current conditions are attributed to multiple factors unrelated to his surgeries.

The Veteran's bladder and kidney disabilities were not incurred in service, and the Board denied his claims for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's hip disability, hypertension, and kidney disorder did not have onset in service or due to his service-connected chronic lumbar strain. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for VA examinations to assess his service-connected nephrolithiasis, eczema, lumbago, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, and osteoarthritis of the left knee disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's kidney disability.

The Board found no service connection for prostate cancer or kidney stones due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disability and GERD, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected history of viral hepatitis.,VA also denied an increased rating for his service-connected viral hepatitis.

The Veteran's kidney and testicular conditions are not related to service, including exposure to jet fuel or herbicides. Service connection is denied.

The Veteran's kidney stone disability has been rated as noncompensable and is now rated at 30 percent effective June 18, 2008. The Veteran's DeQuervain's tenosynovitis of the right hand and right fourth finger was also rated as noncompensable but is now rated at 30 percent effective June 18, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims of service connection for a right elbow disability and a kidney disability, finding that his pre-existing conditions were aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's kidney stones have not been manifested by renal dysfunction with constant albuminuria with some edema; or, definite decrease in kidney function; or, hypertension at least 40 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7101. Consequently, a rating in excess of 30 percent is not available.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for end-stage renal failure cannot be earlier than September 1, 2011, as there is no evidence showing a formal or informal claim was received by VA prior to this date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his renal disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was incurred in service and granted service connection for this condition. The issue of congestive heart failure is remanded as it requires additional development.