Kidney disease decisions — 2016

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine his exposure to herbicides and other potential causes of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's chronic joint disability, including rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease are found to be related to service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is not related to service or service-connected tinnitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for coronary artery disease has been withdrawn.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as the condition is not related to military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's renal cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, nor may it be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case as he is deceased.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 4, 2012 for the award of special monthly compensation at the housebound level is denied. The effective date is set as September 4, 2012 based on the increase in his rating for polycystic kidney disease with stage IV renal failure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected type 2 diabetes mellitus contributed substantially and materially to his cause of death, which was terminal gastric cancer. The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether this condition proximately caused or aggravated the Veteran's fatal gastric cancer.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability of the legs/lower extremities, digestive system, and kidneys have been denied as there is no evidence that his current disabilities are due to VA treatment in December 2002.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant under 38 U.S.C.A. § 2101.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease with hypertensive renal disease, status post myocardial infarction and congestive heart failure is rated at 100% disabling. His hypertension is currently evaluated as 10% disabling.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosed kidney disorder and the Veteran's ulcer disorder did not have an onset during service. The claim for increased rating of GERD disability is inextricably intertwined with the ulcer disorder claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney cancer with loss of the right kidney and bladder cancer are at least as likely as not related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service. As such, these conditions have been granted service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including post-operative degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and asthma, prevent her from obtaining or retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a scheduled videoconference hearing. The appeal is now pending and will be heard at a later date.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing on all issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to hazardous materials during service and whether any of these exposures could cause his current conditions, including diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, renal failure, and heart disorder have been granted due to exposure to herbicides while in service.,Service connection is established for the following conditions: Prostate Cancer (due to Agent Orange exposure), Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (due to Agent Orange exposure), Renal Failure (due to Service-Connected Diabetes Mellitus), and Heart Disorder (due to Service-Connected Diabetes Mellitus).

The Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is found to be related to his service-connected hypertension, and thus service connection for the condition is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be kidney cancer, which the VA has found to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted. However, as this decision grants service connection, the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is rendered moot and thus dismissed.

The Veteran's metastatic kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma and lung metastasis, is as likely as not incurred during his active military service due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.