Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his renal cell carcinoma and dysthymia, have rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment since August 1, 2009.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's skin disorder, neck disorder, kidney disorder, prostate disorder, left ankle disorder, right ankle disorder, lumbar spine disorder, and residuals of a right testicular injury.

The Board has granted a 50 percent evaluation for PTSD, effective from the date of the claim. The Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability with secondary sciatic nerve disability is not addressed in this decision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete opinions and new evidence provided by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney stones and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and large cell lymphoma did not manifest in service or within one year thereafter, and the most probative evidence showed they were not causally related to his military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ring finger fracture and schizophrenia, but denied his claim for kidney disability. The Veteran is entitled to a VA examination to determine the etiology of his schizophrenia.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO/AMC for review of additional VA treatment records added in November 2011, and a readjudication.

The Board found that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II and did not manifest within one year of discharge. The claim was denied as secondary to diabetes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder is not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes, and therefore denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension is service-connected, and thus her claims for cardiovascular disability and kidney disability are also granted.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 5, 2007 for service connection of diabetes mellitus and aid and attendance were granted. The effective dates are set at January 10, 2007.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disorder. The Veteran's claim of entitlement to an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the use of Digoxin/Digitoxin did not cause any additional disability. The Board finds that the Veteran's death is not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar fault on the part of VA.

The Board has denied service connection for end stage renal failure, high blood pressure, and a disability manifested by fatigue. The evidence does not show these conditions are related to the Veteran's service.,Service connection is denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking any of these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to determine his employability due to service-connected disabilities, and the case will be returned to the Board after review.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney cancer was not caused or aggravated by exposure to herbicides, PCBs, or service-connected diabetes. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection for a kidney disorder and a bilateral eye disorder, as well as increased evaluations for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, hypertensive heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO by way of videoconference. The issues include service connection for various conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including type II diabetes mellitus and hypertension, do not meet the criteria for service connection of a renal disability. The Board finds that there is no evidence of a chronic kidney disorder present during the pendency of the claim. Regarding TDIU, the Veteran has multiple service-connected disabilities rated at 80% combined, meeting the schedular criteria set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). However, his education and work experience do not allow for substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.