Kidney disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the percentage requirements for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a). The Board finds that his prostate cancer, by itself, does not preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's kidney cancer claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's congestive heart failure was not caused by VA medical treatment, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.,Service connection for bladder cancer and kidney failure were both denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to herbicide exposure or service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, severity, and etiology of his service-connected conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether PTSD aggravated or caused any of the Veteran's conditions listed on his death certificate.

All claims for service connection related to burns, kidney disorder, high cholesterol, positive tuberculosis test, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction, hemorrhoids, scars, anemia, and asthma have been denied. The Veteran's skin condition is not currently diagnosed.

The Veteran's bladder and kidney cancers were not present during service or within one year of discharge, and there is no evidence linking these conditions to his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board denied the claims as the preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the cancers are related to service.

The Veteran's death was caused by sepsis from metastatic renal cell carcinoma, but the evidence does not support that VA care contributed to his condition or death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his military service and have denied all of his claims for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected type II diabetes mellitus proximately caused his renal failure and whether his renal failure contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for cause of death and granted it, finding that the Veteran's renal disease was related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for hypertension with renal insufficiency and microalbuminuria was denied due to his failure to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lung nodules, finding that there was no evidence of in-service exposure to ionizing radiation or hydrazine. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence linking the current disabilities to service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased initial disability rating for chronic renal failure is dismissed because the Veteran had neither a pending claim nor an appeal at the time of his death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, high cholesterol, right shoulder tendonitis, left shoulder tendonitis, chronic ear infections, dental issues, and allergic rhinitis (claimed as sinus issues) due to herbicide exposure is granted.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not found to be related to his service, including herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The Board determined that the condition is not a presumptive disability and thus cannot be granted based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange or other herbicides.

The Veteran's hypertension is proximately due to, or the result of, his service-connected PTSD. The Board grants service connection for hypertension.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as infective endocarditis, with chronic renal failure and subarachnoid hemorrhage as other significant conditions contributing to death. The Board finds that additional substantive development is necessary prior to further appellate consideration of the claim on appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting polycystic kidney disease did not undergo an increase in severity beyond its natural progression during service and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.