Kidney disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran was found to be unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from December 5, 1996, to September 9, 1997. He is also entitled to an additional allowance of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) as he was rated totally disabling for a continuous period of at least eight years immediately preceding his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed genitourinary disorder and colon cancer are not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a finding of current disability for either condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for further development regarding the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange during service in Okinawa, Japan. The Appellant must provide details of the alleged exposure and VA will attempt to verify this information through Compensation Service and the JSRRC.

The Board denied service connection for chronic sinus disability, kidney stones, a chronic prostate disability, a chronic bladder disability, and a chronic MRSA infection as these conditions were not shown to be related to active duty or ACDUTRA.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for retained shrapnel in the left eye, benign prostate hypertrophy with urinary incontinence, and diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection is also granted for renal dysfunction due to diabetes mellitus type II. The Veteran's claim for rheumatoid arthritis is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disorder, gum disease (claimed as a hernia), residuals of gall bladder removal, GERD, and coronary artery disease have all been denied. The Board found no evidence of chronic conditions or exposure to herbicides during the Veteran's service in Korea.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, including bilateral renal masses, renal failure, kidney cysts, and polycystic kidney disease is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease was not caused or aggravated by VA medical care, including the use of NSAID medication prescribed in 2005.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal insufficiency, bilateral cataracts, PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and erectile dysfunction, do not render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the Board finds that none of his conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service. The cause of death was determined to be hepatitis C resulting in acute renal failure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the provision of an opportunity to submit or identify any additional medical documentation.

The Board finds that the Veteran's prostate and kidney cancers are not service-connected as they are not related to his in-service exposure to asbestos. The evidence does not support a finding of herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of diabetes mellitus type II with mild renal insufficiency and hypertension has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain relevant medical records and lay witness statements, which may impact the determination of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and due process issues, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension prior to May 14, 2014 are denied. As of May 14, 2014, his claim for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney cancer and bladder cancer has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected conditions, including removal of right kidney.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his Merchant Marine service constitutes 'active service' and to schedule him for appropriate examination to determine the nature and etiology of his renal kidney disease.