Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board found that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a psychiatric disorder characterized as psychoneurosis and anxiety, but reopened it based on newly submitted medical evidence indicating current diagnoses related to service. However, the Board concluded that there was no current hearing loss by VA standards, no established link between any diagnosed conditions and service, and thus denied all claims.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute granulocytic leukemia and renal failure, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, scheduling a VA examination, and providing an addendum opinion regarding service connection.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is presumed to be due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The cancer of the tongue, however, was not caused by exposure to contaminants in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Board's decision was vacated by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and thus the motion to revise or reverse is dismissed.

The Board's decision was vacated by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and thus the motion to revise or reverse is dismissed.

The Veteran's renal disease was not incurred or aggravated by service, and the Board finds that it is not related to his service-connected ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including verification of service dates and obtaining relevant personnel records. The issues are whether the Veteran can establish service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, with kidney failure as secondary to hypertension.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, Type II and its related complications. The Veteran's other claims are also supported by the evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge. The issues include service connection for renal cell carcinoma, PTSD rating prior to June 15, 2016, and TDIU prior to June 15, 2016.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back disorder, PTSD, and kidney stones. The evidence did not establish that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder is due to his military service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, bilateral cataracts, and renal dysfunction are currently evaluated at 20 percent. The Board finds no evidence to support a higher rating for these conditions. His peripheral neuropathy is not rated as it does not meet the criteria for a separate evaluation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Veteran was granted presumptive service connection for conditions due to exposure to herbicides, including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's polycythemia vera is related to his service, as are the secondary conditions of fatigue, bone pain, dementia, major depression with anxiety, hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIA), heart failure, anemia, pre-syncope, renal insufficiency and headaches.,Osteoarthritis and disc degeneration of the cervical spine are also related to his service.

The Board found no evidence of SLE or chronic renal insufficiency in service, and the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not shown to have had its onset during service or due to herbicide agent exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's hypertension is found to be related to his in-service herbicide exposure.,Service connection for the Veteran's kidney cancer, gallbladder disorder, and pancreatic disorder are granted as these conditions are also considered to be due to his in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, with erectile dysfunction, cataracts, and onychomycosis has been rated at 40 percent since October 29, 2008. The Veteran's right upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is rated at 20 percent, while his left upper extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is also rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and thus grants his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).