Kidney disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not have a pending claim for benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is not eligible for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for urinary stricture and kidney disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination by a urologist.

The Veteran's left kidney disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in severe symptoms such as hydronephrosis, frequent attacks of colic requiring catheter drainage, renal dysfunction, or recurrent symptomatic urinary tract infections.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is secondary to his service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine the current nature and etiology of any kidney disorder found to be present.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, Parkinson's disease, and a kidney disability have been granted. The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand, presumptively granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's claimed additional disabilities, including chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic abscess, anemia, and renal failure, were not due to VA care provided in Topeka, Kansas prior to his private hospitalization in September 2007.

The Veteran's kidney cancer, renal failure, and ulcer condition were not found to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to his request to withdraw the appeals as to the issues of entitlement to service connection for skin cancer and residuals of right radical nephrectomy, both to include as due to exposure to an herbicidal agent.

The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is warranted, with hypertension being considered a contributory cause.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses claim for hospitalization at San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center on March 30, 2008 is denied as he did not receive VA medical services within the required 24-month period preceding the private emergency treatment.

The Veteran's diabetes insipidus has been manifested by one (and not more than two) episode(s) of parenteral hydration in a year, warranting a 60 percent rating.

The Veteran's cause of death was attributed to diabetes mellitus and renal failure. Service connection for PTSD is granted as an accrued benefit, but it did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death.

Service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lung carcinoma was denied as these conditions are not service-connected.,The Veteran's death was attributed to metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which is not related to his service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD contributed to his cause of death, and thus grants service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal disease, finding that the Veteran did not have these conditions during his active service or within one year of separation from service. The Board also found that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his claimed conditions did not manifest during active duty or due to undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right kidney disorder is not related to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the appellant requesting withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits records. A new VA examination will also be conducted to determine the etiology of any current urinary, rectal, and kidney disorders.