Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the March 1994 rating decision is final and that the November 22, 1994 submission constituted new and material evidence sufficient to reopen his claim. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD remains November 22, 1994.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and morning reports to verify his exposure to Agent Orange in Korea. The VA examiner who conducted the May 2012 mental disorders examination will be asked to reconsider their opinion based on newly added service treatment records.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the service-connected chronic anxiety disorder did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's sinusitis is rated at 30 percent, effective August 19, 2009. His coronary artery disease is rated at 30 percent, also effective August 19, 2009.

The Veteran does not have a current kidney infection (pyelonephritis) that began during service or is related to any incident of service.,The Veteran does not have a current bilateral hip disorder that began during service or is related to any incident of service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for renal failure resulting from lithium toxicity experienced at the Kansas City VA Medical Center (VAMC) from July 13, 1999 to August 5, 1999. The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Veteran's death was caused by alcohol abuse, which was secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical opinions and VA examination reports. The appeal will be remanded to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office.

The Board finds that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of radiation or asbestos exposure in service. As such, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of head trauma has been granted, and he is now service-connected for this condition. The claims for kidney disorder and spleen disorder have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and a comprehensive examination to assess the cumulative impact of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA, heart condition (non-ischemic cardiomyopathy), and kidney disease (diabetic nephropathy) as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's left knee degenerative joint disease is also granted but with a current rating of 10% since May 17, 2011.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and providing a new VA examination to address the etiology of his chronic renal disease.

The Veteran's SOD was granted service connection and is rated at 30%.,The Veteran's ureteral stricture with hyronephrosis and renal colic has been rated at 30% since June 14, 2007, and at 10% prior to that date. The Veteran also received a temporary 100% rating from August 11, 2009 until November 1, 2009.,The Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax has been rated at noncompensable since June 14, 2004, and at 10% as of August 10, 2012.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed hypertension and kidney disease, including whether they are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any liver disability, renal cysts, hypertension, and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and consideration of the evidence in Virtual VA and VBMS databases. The case will be readjudicated after all necessary actions are completed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that the evidence was not in equipoise and did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral leg disability, renal disability, hepatitis C, depression not otherwise specified, and pelvic hematoma as a result of the December 14, 2005 dialysis incident is granted. The Veteran has been awarded compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for PTSD due to this incident.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, as his kidney disease did not begin in-service or within a year of separation from service. The Board found that the Veteran's cancer was not related to Agent Orange exposure and thus did not contribute to his death.