Kidney disease decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining private medical records from Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and providing a new VA opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused stress that led to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to schedule him for a video conference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and SSA records, scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his renal cell carcinoma, and readjudicating both service connection claims.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, is presumed due to herbicide exposure in Thailand. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, kidney disease, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis (renal dysfunction) is rated at 60 percent from June 15, 2010. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date was denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have hypertension, PCT, liver disability, or renal cysts that are related to his military service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cysts is denied as there is no evidence that his current condition is related to his active service. His diabetes, which he contends causes his renal cysts, has already been granted service connection.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disorder and denied an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's diabetes was found to not require regulation of activities in relation to blood sugar control.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claims of service connection for hypertension, end-stage renal failure, and erectile dysfunction. The claim for an initial compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction is remanded due to a lack of supporting medical evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, kidney disease, and dementia are proximately due to or the result of his service-connected PTSD/TBI with headaches.

The Veteran's additional loss of kidney function is determined to be the result of carelessness, negligence, or error in judgment on the part of VA medical personnel who prescribed Fleet's Phospho-soda for bowel cleansing prior to his sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopies. As a result, he is granted compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's urinary stricture and kidney disability, as well as whether these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further examination and consideration due to unclear evidence regarding his employability solely based on service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately related to his service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and chronic renal insufficiency. The Board finds the evidence in relative equipoise and grants service connection for hypertension.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a new VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any current residuals of mercury poisoning, including an adrenal disorder and anemia, as well as an immune deficiency.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including obtaining an addendum medical opinion to clarify whether his hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency are aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.