Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran is granted compensation for metal ion toxicity and renal failure resulting from a hip replacement, but denied compensation for other residuals of the hip replacement.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and its metastasis are not service-connected due to lack of a causal relationship with his active duty service, despite presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death, finding that none of his disabilities attributable to presumed exposure to herbicide agents caused or contributed to his death. The immediate cause of death was sepsis, which began shortly before the Veteran's death while hospitalized.

The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral elbow, knee, hand disabilities, liver disability, weight gain, carcinoma of the abdominal cavity, kidney disability, and psoriasis due to insufficient consideration of the Veteran's service treatment records and the need for additional VA opinions.

The Board has dismissed all service connection claims due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and OSA, finding that the Veteran's current respiratory disorders are not related to his military service.,The Board also denied compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for renal failure due to a lack of VA care during gallbladder surgery.

The Veteran's hypertension, heart disease and myocardial infarction, and kidney disorders were denied service connection as there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's kidney conditions and their relationship to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by service-connected coronary artery disease, which is considered the principal cause of his cardiopulmonary arrest and subsequent death.

The petition to reopen the previously denied service connection claims for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, kidney disorder (including kidney stones and cysts), heart disorder, bowel disorder, and headaches is granted.,The issues of service connection for a kidney disorder, heart disorder, bowel disorder, and headaches are remanded.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is granted service connection. Tinnitus is denied as not related to service. Hypertension is also denied as not related to service. Cardiovascular disorder (arteriosclerosis), kidney disorder, and diabetes mellitus are all denied on secondary basis.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine and chronic kidney disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations.

The Board denied service connection for depression as secondary to aortic valve replacement disability due to lack of evidence of current diagnosis. The claims for gout, left knee disability, right knee disability, left shoulder disability, and left kidney disability are remanded.

The Veteran's disability rating for recurrent kidney stones, nephrolithiasis, and glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome was reduced from 30% to 0%, effective January 7, 2014. The reduction was proper as the disability showed improvement under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for hypertension from May 26, 2010 to October 7, 2010 was denied. The claim for a separate compensable rating for hypertension from October 8, 2010 is also denied.

The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, retinal occlusion and chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's hypertension was remanded due to the need for a VA examination.,Service connection for residuals of left-sided cerebrovascular accident is also remanded as it may be related to his hypertension.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding whether the Veteran's in-service head injuries are related to his stroke, which was the immediate cause of death. The VA is required to obtain additional treatment records and provide an addendum opinion on this issue.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, liver condition, kidney condition, and erectile dysfunction. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and active military service.

The Veteran's death was caused by hepatorenal syndrome, which is not service-connected. The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's PTSD to his military service and determined that alcohol abuse did not arise from service-connected conditions.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death, finding that there is not sufficient evidence to establish a link between peptic ulcer disease and the Veteran's death. The claim was also denied for service connection for peptic ulcer disease due to lack of competent medical evidence.