Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his cardiovascular and kidney disabilities, including whether they are related to service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for renal cell carcinoma, which he claims is due to herbicide exposure during his military service in Vietnam. The Board has determined that additional development is needed before the claim can be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic renal disease is denied as it does not meet legal merit.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, diagnosed as kidney stones, is considered to have existed prior to service and has been a continuous issue since then. The Board granted service connection for the condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disorder and renal cell carcinoma were not incurred in service, may not be presumed to have been so incurred, and were not caused or aggravated by service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's conditions, including diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, renal disability, hypertension, and presbycusis, are not service connected. The evidence does not support a finding of direct or presumptive service connection for any of these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee disability, right shoulder disability, and sleep apnea are all related to service.,However, due to lack of specific diagnosis for sleep apnea in this decision summary, it is not clear if the Veteran currently has a diagnosed condition or if his symptoms are still being evaluated.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is service-connected, as it was incurred during his military service and related to exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The issue of soft-tissue sarcoma remains pending.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disability, including renal cell carcinoma with left kidney removal, is not related to his active service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of current diagnoses or a link between any claimed conditions and active military service.,No new effective date has been granted as no earlier effective date claim was filed.

The Board has determined that there is no competent evidence of a current kidney disorder or right hip disorder.,There is also no medical nexus linking any present disability to service.

The Veteran's hypertension with renal impairment, congestive heart failure, and tinnitus are all found to be related to his service.,Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for cause of death effective May 25, 2012 based on the Veteran's kidney cancer and metastasis to lung and brain. The condition was presumed due to weapons testing radiation exposure.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The cause of death, listed as cardiopulmonary arrest due to metastatic carcinoma of the pancreas, is related to his service-connected kidney cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with renal insufficiency, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the combined rating of 70 percent for his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for right testicle atrophy as due to service-connected retroperitoneal fibrosis with left kidney removal and stent on the right.,The Veteran is also awarded a compensable disability rating of 30 percent for his service-connected left testicle atrophy, effective December 28, 2016.

The Veteran's death was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The Board found no additional disability resulting from the treatment provided at Tomah VAMC.

The Veteran's claims for service connection of his right shoulder and stomach disabilities, as well as a higher rating for his low back disability, were denied. The Veteran's kidney disability was not found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The Board cannot proceed with the merits of this case as he is no longer alive.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated at 70 percent, effective from March 23, 2017. Service connection for residuals of renal cell carcinoma and sinusitis has been granted.