Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Veteran is unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities, which are rated as a combined rating of at least 70 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and therefore grants service connection for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to hazardous chemicals while stationed at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is granted due to her service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis and hypertension with chronic renal insufficiency.

The Board has determined that further development is necessary before a decision can be made regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney disorder. The case is being remanded to allow for additional examination and opinion.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a new VA examination. The Veteran's service-connected right kidney hydronephrosis with left kidney involvement will be re-evaluated.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service, and the claim for service connection is granted. The increased rating for coronary artery disease and TDIU claims are not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied service connection for kidney cancer, liver cancer, cyst of the left breast, and a liver disorder (including hepatitis C, fatty liver, and cysts of the liver) due to lack of medical evidence linking these conditions to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's bronchial asthma, now diagnosed as ACOS, has been rated at the maximum 100 percent since January 13, 2006. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was atherosclerotic heart disease, but chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure and renal disease were also noted as significant conditions contributing to his death.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disorder and granted it, finding that new evidence submitted since the July 2011 denial raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma, which the VA medical opinion found is not related to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims for service connection for bladder and kidney cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure. The preponderance of the evidence does not establish a link between these conditions and his active military service.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is being remanded for further development to determine if it is related to his service-connected diabetes or due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is presumed to have been incurred in service, and the Board finds that he is entitled to service connection for this condition. The low back disability is secondary to his service-connected renal cell carcinoma.

The Board has granted service connection for kidney failure, multiple myeloma, residuals of bladder cancer, and residuals of colon cancer as related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. Service connection was denied for kidney cancer.

The cause of the Veteran's death was due to acute renal failure/chronic renal failure caused by Clostridium difficile colitis, which was related to multiple myeloma. The Board found that this condition was not service-connected.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for carcinoma of the bladder and kidney, finding that it is not established by direct evidence or due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The preponderance of the evidence did not support a link between the cancer and service.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a kidney contusion do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating at any time during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including hypertension with chronic kidney disease, nephrolithiasis, maxillary sinusitis, anxiety disorder, and left knee patellofemoral syndrome, are of such severity that they preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the appellant withdrew her claims for service connection for a right kidney condition and a heart condition prior to the issuance of a decision.