Kidney disease decisions — 2019

The Veteran's initial 10 percent rating for a scar from partial right nephrectomy is granted, but his kidney cancer residuals are remanded due to lack of recent medical evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic renal disease, as secondary to his already service-connected diabetes mellitus. The Board found that there was no evidence or argument suggesting a link between the disability and service.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD does not cause the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, thus denying his claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's kidney disorder is not considered to have been caused by VA negligence, but rather due to a multifactorial etiology including alcohol abuse and withdrawal, severe pancreatitis, hypotension, Crestor usage, sepsis/bacterial infection, and metabolic abnormalities. The Board found that the additional disability was not proximately caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, right and left lower and upper extremity neuropathy, vision impairment, kidney disorder, and prostate cancer. The Veteran's claims were not supported by the evidence of record.,Service connection was denied as there was no showing that any of these conditions began during active service or was related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for congestive heart failure, kidney and lung conditions, and osteoarthritis due to exposure to ionizing radiation have been dismissed as the appeal is moot due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and whether his service-connected PTSD caused or aggravated his liver failure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, post-phlebitic syndrome (left leg), kidney disability, skin cancer, and an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for coronary artery disease. The case is remanded to obtain additional medical records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claims.

The Board has denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus. The claims for kidney disease, prostate cancer, hypertension (secondary to kidney disorder), and erectile dysfunction (secondary to prostate cancer) are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion regarding service connection for a renal mass on both a direct basis and as secondary to the service-connected diabetic nephropathy.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's death was caused by his service-connected asbestos exposure and sun exposure, granting service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examinations, including Gulf War illness evaluations.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings related to bronchiectasis with bronchiolitis, COPD, asbestosis, coronary artery disease, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and bowel disorder. The Veteran's claims were not supported by evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for end stage renal disease and hypertension were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus between the conditions and active service, including herbicide exposure. The Board found that the current diagnoses did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection based on herbicide agent exposure.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma was not present during service and is not etiologically related to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for clear cell renal carcinoma and thyroid follicular neoplasm, finding no evidence of a causal relationship to the Veteran's active service.

The Veteran's end stage renal failure is denied as not incurred in or the result of active service, including as the result of exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.,The Veteran's anemia is denied as not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, a respiratory disorder (claimed as lung spot), and kidney disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for further development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding his service connection for renal cell carcinoma and its relationship to diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's renal cancer, presumed to be caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during service in Vietnam, is found to have resulted in his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.