Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Veteran's polycystic kidney disease is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his active duty or presumed herbicide exposure. The Board found no valid PTSD diagnosis based on the verified in-service stressor.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to the Veteran's heart disability and kidney disability. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran seeks service connection for various conditions due to herbicide exposure during his service at Fort Knox Army base. The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including verification of the Veteran's exposure and obtaining VA examinations or opinions.

The Board found that the Veteran's tinnitus, head injury residuals, kidney infection residuals, and frostbite of the feet did not have their onset in service or are otherwise related to service. As a result, the claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service in Vietnam, and therefore diabetes mellitus with complications is presumed. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as 'incident to age' with hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease noted as other significant conditions contributing to death. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcers to his death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing at the RO. The issues include service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, service connection for a chronic kidney disability (secondary to a service-connected condition), and total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma with left kidney removal, finding that there was no evidence linking his condition to service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's lumbar spine spondylosis with disc degeneration is rated at 20 percent, effective April 16, 2009. The right knee and ankle disabilities are each rated at 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA compensation examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed bladder cancer, kidney cancer, and their residuals due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal for higher initial ratings for various service-connected conditions has been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a grant of increased disability ratings.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that PTSD did not contribute to or cause his death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand and whether he is entitled to presumptive service connection for diabetes mellitus with heart disease, renal dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities due to such exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have a kidney disorder, prostate disorder, or low back disorder during his lifetime and therefore denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's current urological disorder did not manifest in service and is not related to his military service.

The Veteran's death is due to myelodysplastic syndrome, but his service-connected chronic renal failure may have contributed substantially or materially to his death. The Board finds that a supplemental opinion is necessary to determine if the Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him materially less capable of resisting the effects of his myelodysplastic syndrome.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not incurred or aggravated during service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board finds no evidence linking the cancer to his active duty service.

The Board has determined that there is no current evidence of a kidney disorder, and the Veteran's testimony regarding past treatment for kidney stones is not supported by clinical records. Therefore, service connection for a kidney disorder cannot be granted.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, and thus no new and material evidence has been received.

The Veteran's cause of death, carcinoma of the lung with renal cell carcinoma, was not service-connected. The Board found that his PTSD did not contribute to his cancer and that he had a separate diagnosis of bipolar disorder which caused delays in chemotherapy treatment.