Kidney disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the denial of service connection for a heart condition, a kidney condition, and hypertension in an August 2016 written statement.

The Board found no evidence to support a direct service connection for the Veteran's kidney disorder, as it was first diagnosed after service and is associated with his post-service diabetes mellitus.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for right kidney removal and granted it, finding new and material evidence to support the claim.

The Veteran's renal failure is not considered to be due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing lithium treatment for his mental health disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current knee or kidney disability for which service connection can be granted. The evidence shows no chronic conditions during service and no current diagnoses of either condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions regarding his hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, and peripheral artery disease.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and ischemic heart disease.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's renal lithiasis (kidney stones) is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling. The VA Board found that the evidence does not demonstrate a history of frequent attacks of colic requiring catheter drainage, and thus, the current 10 percent disability evaluation adequately reflects his condition.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not incurred or aggravated by service, including as due to in-service herbicide exposure. The condition is considered a direct result of the Veteran's service.

The Board is requesting a medical opinion to determine if the Veteran's cause of death, metastatic sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, was related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam or to in-service treatment for kidney issues. The case will be remanded for further action.

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

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma, as due to exposure to herbicides, is granted. The Board also found that the Veteran has a current disability for VA purposes and his cancer was causally or etiologically related to his in-service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to address the nature and etiology of his claimed conditions, including their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, and he is granted this benefit. For his erectile dysfunction and kidney stones claims, further development is needed to determine their etiology.

The Veteran's claim for a higher level of SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was granted, effective from August 12, 2014. The effective date is not earlier than November 30, 2011.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic renal cell cancer, is found to be due to exposure to herbicides during service. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Veteran's application for a clothing allowance was not timely filed, as it was received after the July 31st deadline. Therefore, he is denied entitlement to clothing allowances for 2004 through 2013.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including a cervical spine disorder, diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, liver disorder, and autoimmune disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran has a scar from kidney surgery during service, which is considered a residual of the in-service treatment.,There is no evidence of current residuals of meningitis.