Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran's prostate cancer is rated at 60 percent from May 11, 2018. His chronic kidney condition continues to be rated at 80 percent. The Board granted a higher rating for the prostate cancer and found that he requires regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for membranous nephropathy/renal disease and a skin disorder other than onychomycosis, finding that the evidence did not support a link to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney cancer, bladder cancer, and urothelial tumor due to presumed exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for hypertension is remanded as the Veteran contends it was caused by PTSD and his service-connected kidney cancer.

The Veteran's cause of death, renal cell carcinoma, is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his military service and exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including renal dysfunction, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and various neuropathies, prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has determined that the combined rating for these conditions is at least 90%, meeting the percentage requirements for TDIU. However, further examination is needed to assess the combined impact of all his service-connected disabilities on his occupational impairment.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for renal insufficiency is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim.,The claims of service connection for ischemic heart disease and B-cell lymphoma are reopened, but remanded due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has restored service connection for chronic kidney disease and hypertension, finding that the severance was improper due to conflicting evidence regarding whether these conditions are secondary to diabetes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for financial assistance in the purchase of an automobile or other conveyance and/or necessary adaptive equipment due to his service-connected disabilities not meeting the criteria for loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in the physical loss or permanent loss of use of one or both hands or feet, nor does he have ankylosis of his knees or hips. Therefore, he is ineligible for financial assistance in purchasing a vehicle and adaptive equipment.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as metastatic lung cancer caused by adrenal cortical cancer. The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to insufficient evidence linking exposure to herbicide agents, specifically TCDD, to the Veteran's adrenal cancer.

The Board denied the claim to reopen service connection for cause of death due to lack of new and material evidence showing a relationship between the Veteran's causes of death and active service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma, status post nephrectomy. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum opinion from a clinician.

The Veteran's death is considered to be service-connected, but the cause of his death—sepsis syndrome—is not attributed to his service or a service-connected condition. The Board found that medications taken for his lumbar spine disability did not contribute to his death.

The Veteran's service connection claim for hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) is denied as the condition does not constitute a disability for which VA compensation benefits can be granted.,Service connection is granted for chronic kidney disease secondary to service-connected diabetes mellitus type II, with reasonable doubt resolved in favor of the Veteran. The issue of hypertension remains pending and requires further development due to Agent Orange exposure.,The claim for hypertension has been remanded as there is insufficient evidence regarding its etiology related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a kidney stone treatment on December 9, 2015 are remanded due to the need to associate relevant treatment records with the claims file.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's recurrent kidney stones are related to his active service, including exposure to herbicide agents. The issue of entitlement to service connection for recurrent kidney stones remains pending.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney condition as secondary to his service-connected type II diabetes mellitus, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by and aggravated beyond its natural progress by his service-connected type II diabetes.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted.,The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to allow for further development.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to PTSD, and dismissed the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits as the award of service-connected compensation renders the pension claim moot.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the Board has not found new evidence to support these claims.