Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including varicose veins, chronic low back syndrome, bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, are of sufficient severity to preclude all forms of substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability are met.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The evidence submitted since the October 1999 rating decision is cumulative or does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's VA Form 9, Appeal to Board of Veterans' Appeals, received on January 8, 2014, was not timely filed within the required time frame.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability and diabetes mellitus type II were not incurred or aggravated by service, and denied both claims.

The Veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans Insurance (SDVI/RH) was denied because he is not considered to be in 'good health' as required by the law, due to his recent history of kidney and bladder cancer.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal as he did not file a timely substantive appeal within the required time frame.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, heart disorder, kidney/renal disorder, and Parkinson's disease. The effective dates are not specified as the claims were granted in full.

The Veteran's appeal of kidney cancer service connection was dismissed due to withdrawal. Bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were found to be incurred as a result of service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding service connection for hypertension, kidney disability, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claims are related to his service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured left little finger are rated as noncompensable, and his kidney disorder claim has been granted with no specific rating assigned.

The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities and kidney stones, finding that there was no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand and insufficient medical evidence to support a nexus between current disabilities and service.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have hypertension in service and could not establish a link between his military service and his cause of death. The claim was denied.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not present in service or until many years thereafter and is not etiologically related to service, to include presumed herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's initial increased rating for coronary artery disease and essential hypertension with history of mild renal insufficiency is denied for the periods from March 27, 2009 to September 4, 2013, and from April 14, 2015.

The Veteran's metastatic adenocarcinoma with metastases to the bone, liver, adrenal glands and lymph nodes was granted service connection as secondary to his PTSD. The cause of death due to metastatic adenocarcinoma of unknown etiology is also considered secondary to his alcohol use.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and an examination, as well as obtaining missing records.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and chronic kidney disease, finding that the Veteran's conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service. The hypertension manifested within one year of separation from service, while the chronic kidney disease was caused by the hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's claim of service connection for renal cell carcinoma is now before the Board again.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney stones are not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.