Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Board finds that the Veteran's death is less likely than not related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, and service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claim for pulmonary fibrosis has been granted. From November 16, 2010 through February 13, 2012, the Veteran was awarded a 20% rating for his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as his conditions did not manifest during any period of military service and were not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disorder.,The Veteran died from renal cell carcinoma, which was not service connected.

The Veteran's cause of death, multiple myeloma and acute renal failure, was not caused or contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by service, including exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran died in October 2012 from pneumonia with C. difficile infection and dysphagia, failure to thrive, and chronic kidney disease. The cause of death was unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's cause of death was far advanced carcinoma of the pancreas. The Board found that his service-connected disabilities did not contribute substantially or materially to his death, and thus denied service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's nephrolithiasis (kidney stones) has been assigned a 10 percent evaluation prior to October 7, 2015, and a 30 percent evaluation thereafter. The maximum schedular evaluations have been granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability for Graves' disease, kidney disorder, or GERD and therefore service connection is denied.

The Board denied claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, as well as a right shoulder disability. The Veteran's current conditions were not found to be related to his active military service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any disability to service or contributing to his death.

The Veteran's kidney disability, including renal insufficiency, was incurred during active duty service and continues to persist. The Veteran also has a service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine with accompanying radiculopathy of the right lower extremity that is rated appropriately.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to insufficient information provided regarding the bases of his claims and the specific residuals related to his varicolectomy and tracheotomy. The AOJ is also requested to confirm the Veteran's in-service TDY in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's preexisting kidney disease was aggravated during active service, and therefore grants service connection for end-stage renal disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an addendum opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's chronic kidney disease and a neurological examination for his lumbar spine. The issues remain on appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for ocular histoplasmosis, bilateral nephrolithiasis, an acquired psychiatric disorder (anxiety and depression), renal disease, and mediastinal obstructive syndrome as secondary to exposure to Histoplasma capsulatum on active duty.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an effective date prior to June 9, 2009, for the service-connected disabilities listed on the title page. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to renal failure, sepsis, cerebrovascular accident, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The Board finds that the service-connected conditions did not contribute substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for all issues related to service connection, increased rating for PTSD, and TDIU prior to March 11, 2013.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claim of a kidney disorder being related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran's current kidney condition was not incurred during or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, thus the claim for TDIU is denied.