Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected disabilities contributed to it. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's emergency medical expenses at Cape Coral Hospital were reimbursed as the treatment was deemed necessary due to a serious threat to his health and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not establish a direct relationship between his conditions and active duty.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development of the record and reconsideration of the claim due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus and kidney disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The case will be reconsidered after all necessary steps have been taken.

The Board found no evidence of a kidney disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claims for service connection for right knee contusion, hypertension, and a kidney condition. However, no new and material evidence was found for the claim of service connection for a kidney condition.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease with hypertension was granted an evaluation of 80 percent effective August 7, 2014 and a separate 10 percent rating for hypertension effective February 13, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for renal failure, which he claims is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type 2. The Board has determined that additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records from Oak Knoll Naval Hospital and seeking any additional relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for renal insufficiency is denied. The VA compensation payment amount resulting from the May 2013 rating decision, which granted a 30 percent disability rating effective from December 28, 2000, for the renal disability, was proper.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or presumptive relationship between his kidney cancer and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to link his cause of death to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was entitled to a TDIU as of November 27, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's ureteral obstruction disability resulting from VA surgery on March 1, 2010 is rated at 100 percent for the entire period on appeal due to markedly decreased function of kidney and other organ systems precluding more than sedentary activity.

The Board finds that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective as of April 30, 2010.

The Veteran's kidney disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused or worsened by his service-connected ischemic heart disease. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a congenital kidney disorder with kidney removal was denied. The appeal is based on the reopening of his previously denied claim and submission of new evidence.