Kidney disease decisions — 2017

The Board has ordered the appellant to be scheduled for a VA aid and attendance or housebound examination. The claim is being remanded due to the cancellation of her appointment.

The Veteran's death was caused by multiple conditions, including perforated diverticulitis and other chronic diseases. The VA needs to verify if the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents in Thailand during his service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, depression, and mood disorder was withdrawn. The Board denied the remaining claims due to lack of evidence supporting the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for tinnitus and an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety. The remaining claims are dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal.

The Veteran's diabetes was not incurred in or is otherwise related to his period of active service.,Cold weather injury residuals, arthritis, gout, hypertension, an eye disorder (ultraviolet keratitis), a gastrointestinal disorder (colitis), an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder), vertigo, and a kidney disorder are not shown to be related to his period of active service.

The Veteran's lumbar spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 is rated as 60 percent disabling since November 26, 2013. The RO also granted SMC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(s) effective from the same date. TDIU is moot due to the Veteran's already being in receipt of a total disability rating for individual unemployability based on service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is not etiologically related to his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction and denied an increased initial rating for chronic kidney disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current kidney stones, kidney cancer and its residuals (right nephrectomy scar), and hypertension are not service-connected. The erectile dysfunction claim is denied as secondary to hypertension.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to kidney cancer, finding that there was no significant exposure to jet fuel during service and thus no causal link between the Veteran's exposure to jet fuel and his kidney cancer.

The Veteran's kidney stones have been granted a 10% rating effective September 22, 2016. The other issues were denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for hypercholesterolemia and sickle cell trait were denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability for these conditions, as they are laboratory findings or congenital defects respectively. For CAD with heart valve malfunction and scoliosis, the Board finds that additional development is needed due to incomplete STRs and lack of definitive medical opinions.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for chronic kidney disease and increased ratings for his myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease with supraventricular arrhythmia.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis, a left kidney cyst, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a liver cyst due to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that neither of these conditions may be presumed to have been caused by such exposure. Additionally, efforts to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange were unsuccessful.

The Board has denied service connection for heart disability and kidney condition, including loss of kidney. The remaining claims for peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and hypertension are pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and gastric cancer are being considered, with the possibility that exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune may be related. The Board will seek additional evidence and determine if new and material evidence has been submitted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's clear cell carcinoma of the lungs and renal cell carcinoma are at least as likely as not caused by his in-service exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. Therefore, service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, left ankle disability, neuropathy of the right foot, neuropathy of the left hand, neuropathy of the right hand, and neuropathy of the left foot are all denied as there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left hip disability, right hip disability, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The claim for service connection for hypertension and kidney disease remains pending.

The Veteran's hypertension is service connected as a result of herbicide exposure. The claims for erectile dysfunction, chronic kidney disease and pancreatitis are not addressed in the decision.