Kidney disease decisions — 2015

The Veteran's kidney stones and liver condition were not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's end stage renal disease is related to his military service, as evidenced by a finding of protein in his urine during service. The Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, as due to herbicide exposure, is granted. The Board finds that the evidence of record supports a finding that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his period of active service in Korea and concedes this exposure. As such, service connection for diabetes mellitus is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including tinea pedis, chronic kidney disease with kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower and upper extremities, and hypertension. The decision was based on the lack of evidence supporting a secondary service connection theory.

The Veteran has a benign right renal cyst, but no current chronic kidney disability. The evidence does not support service connection for the right kidney mass as it is currently benign and does not cause any symptoms of a chronic kidney disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and medical inquiry, including a new examination of the Veteran's left knee and hypertension/chronic renal failure. The claims will be readjudicated in light of all evidence of record.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a neck disability and granted it, finding that there is evidence relating the current neck disability to service. The kidney and left knee disability claims are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence linking his death to any exposure during active duty.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of his renal cancer and left kidney removal.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease, diagnosed during the appeal period, was causally related to his service-connected right knee and lumbar spine disabilities. The Board grants service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease are granted as service connected. The remaining issues of service connection for various disabilities have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were not met.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran died of acute liver failure, which was not service-connected. The cause of death is attributed to carcinoma in the liver of unknown origin and other contributing factors. There is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran was granted service connection for PTSD and his claim of entitlement to service connection for a left kidney condition, to include residuals of renal cell carcinoma, was reopened.,PTSD is related to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. The Board has also dismissed the kidney disability claim as withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his chronic renal disorder did not warrant a rating in excess of the current 30 percent assigned.

The Veteran's kidney cancer residuals are being remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including consideration of ionizing radiation exposure during service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a rating of 70 percent. Service connection for the other conditions was granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension. The Veteran's current diagnoses of chronic kidney disease and hypertension have been established, and a VA medical expert concluded that it is highly likely that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease had its onset during active service and caused his hypertension.