Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for sinusitis, angiomyolipoma, left kidney renal calculus, radial sensory neuritis, and right antecubital fossa have been denied as not related to service. The claims for COPD, seborrheic keratosis, and asthma are also denied due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney failure and to reopen his claim of service connection for scleroderma. The decision found that new evidence did not relate scleroderma to service, nor did it raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. For kidney failure, the Board noted no evidence showing its onset in service or within one year after discharge, and concluded that it was not related to his service-connected ischemic cardiomyopathy.

The Veteran's renal disability is found to be caused by his service-connected hypertension. However, the Veteran's erectile dysfunction was not related to his military service or his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's depressive disorder is currently rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board finds that the criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various symptoms, including swelling of the whole body, shortness of breath, rashes, chronic bleeding of the gums, cramping and burning in the lower extremities, and renal insufficiency. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if these conditions are related to herbicide exposure.

The Board finds that none of the service-connected conditions caused or contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death. The causes of death listed on his death certificate were not related to any service-connected disabilities, and there is no evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions and the Veteran's service.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it did not meet the requirements for filing an appeal, specifically due to the Veteran not submitting a VA Form 21-0958 within one year of the April 2015 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal, kidney condition (nephropathy), heart disorder, and right arm disorder are not service connected due to lack of evidence showing their onset during or within one year after service. The hypertension claim is also denied as it did not manifest within a year of discharge.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding service connection claims for diabetes mellitus and secondary kidney disability, due to claimed herbicide exposure on active duty.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the Appellant's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied, and nonservice-connected death pension is also denied.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including CAD, type 2 diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, and PVD, all as not being causally connected to active service or herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for epilepsy with secondary psychosis and found new and material evidence. However, it denied service connection for hypertension and kidney disease as not related to service.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus type II with associated disabilities, including abnormal brain matter, arthritis, fatigue, breathing difficulties, hypertension, balance/fainting problems, gastrointestinal disorder, heartburn, skin disorder (including lumps on the left hand), broken bones, memory problems, kidney trouble, and confusion, all claimed as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's lung disorder is not service-connected, and his kidney disorder is also not service-connected. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss has been rated as noncompensable prior to July 20, 2016, and at least 10 percent thereafter.,Service connection for a lung disorder was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or any exposure to asbestos or trichloroethylene. Service connection for a kidney disorder was also denied as there is no evidence of in-service problems that could be linked to current conditions.

The Veteran was granted service connection for chronic renal insufficiency with hypertension, effective December 15, 2005. However, the appeal of past-due benefits from a May 2007 rating decision is denied as there was no final Board decision at that time.

The Veteran's appeal is denied for the issues of higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, service connection for dental disorder for VA compensation purposes, bilateral eye disability (including cataracts and normal tension glaucoma), kidney disability (including kidney stones), diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. The appeals are all denied as not supported by evidence.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for coronary artery disease, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, a pulmonary disorder (chronic bronchitis), renal disorder (renal artery stenosis with renal insufficiency), and psychiatric disorder. The decision found that these conditions were not related to service or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not shown to be related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The Board found no evidence of a link between the cancer and his service.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for thoracic spine degenerative changes is dismissed. The Board also denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for a kidney disorder.