Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease, which includes carotid artery disease, is at least as likely as not caused by treatment for his service-connected coronary artery disease. The claim for service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to determine if the Appellant's May 16, 1963 accident resulted in disability sufficient to establish veteran status.

The Board found that the Veteran's surgery for right pyelonephritis did not meet the criteria for a temporary total evaluation under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30, as there was no evidence of at least one month of convalescence or severe postoperative residuals.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether the service-connected diabetes mellitus contributed to the cause of death due to renal cell carcinoma.

The Veteran seeks service connection for bilateral kidney cysts, which he claims are related to his in-service exposure to herbicides. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of his current kidney disability.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim for gout is inextricably intertwined with the kidney disorder claim as the Veteran testified that his gout was secondary to his kidney disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and further development is needed before the matter can be properly adjudicated.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the submitted evidence is not new and material.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to his service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lower back. The claim for DIC benefits is moot as a result. The earlier effective date claim for TDIU award resulting in accrued benefits was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, residuals of stroke, renal failure with dialysis, and right eye blindness are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep apnea is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection. The other conditions listed were also found not to be related to service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lyme disease, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, angioedema, and a kidney condition. The Veteran is not eligible for special monthly pension based on aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate opinion regarding the cause of death and its relation to service. The appellant's claim for DIC benefits is being returned for further development.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, end-stage renal failure, and anemia are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his exposure history and medical opinions.

The Veteran's request for an extension of his Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits delimiting date was denied because he did not file within the one-year period after his eligibility ended, and his disability did not prevent him from continuing his education past July 2008.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for a right knee disorder, left knee disorder, right kidney mass, and diabetes mellitus, type II. However, it found that new and material evidence had not been submitted sufficient to reopen these claims.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development of new evidence received at the Board in September 2013.

The Board has remanded the issue of eligibility for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits due to its inextricability with another claim, specifically the evaluation of chronic renal insufficiency with hypertension. The appeal is not about service connection.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for Burkitt's lymphoma of the bone marrow and its residuals, including chronic kidney disease, hyperparathyroidism, bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and branch retinal vein occlusion of the left eye. The case has been remanded to obtain additional information regarding potential radiation exposure during service.