Kidney disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's death is being reviewed to determine if his service-connected PTSD and panic disorder with agoraphobia substantially contributed to his cause of death, hepatorenal syndrome and cirrhosis.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service and denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the request for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board has remanded the case for further adjudication due to deficiencies in the advisory opinion provided by the VA Compensation Service Director.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates were denied as the evidence did not show that he filed a claim prior to February 10, 2010.,The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were granted with an effective date of February 10, 2010.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is being reviewed to determine if it is related to his exposure to herbicides during service. The Board finds that a medical opinion is needed to decide this claim.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as cardiopulmonary arrest and renal cell carcinoma. The Board found that the Appellant has demonstrated an in-service exposure to herbicides, but not a current disability related to service connection for the cause of death due to renal cell carcinoma being outside the presumptive conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if diabetes mellitus had its onset during service or is related to an in-service disease, event, or injury. Additionally, verification of herbicide exposure in Guam and at Offutt Air Force Base will be conducted.

The Board has granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as hypertension and hepatomegaly, all found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The kidney disorder (including proteinuria) is not currently addressed in this decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tremors, kidney cancer, lung cancer, and bone cancer are related to his service-connected kidney cancer due to exposure at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's July 31, 2003 application for pension is considered a claim for service-connected compensation. The effective date of the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic renal failure with hypertension is set at July 31, 2003.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have peripheral neuropathy of his upper or lower extremities secondary to his service-connected diabetes, and denied service connection for stage III kidney disease as secondary to his service-connected diabetes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and service-connected disabilities at the time of his death. The appellant is seeking service connection for cause of her husband's death, which may be related to his lung cancer.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between the Veteran's active service and his current disabilities.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents. As a result, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, and a TDIU rating of 60% has been granted.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have any service-connected disabilities, and therefore, her claims for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development regarding potential exposure to nerve agents and other chemicals during service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for renal cell carcinoma with metastatic disease of the left upper lung, parotid glands, right adrenal gland, and the right cervical area was granted. His initial rating for coronary artery disease was increased to 30 percent effective from August 31, 2010.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions, finding that the Veteran did not have service in Vietnam and thus was not presumed to be exposed to Agent Orange. The claim is denied.