Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's kidney cancer and lung cancer are granted as service connected, but the claims for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, tinnitus, and a TDIU based on coronary heart disease are denied.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital (MHSH) from November 6 through November 12, 2012, as VA facilities were feasibly available to the Veteran on that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not reasonably foreseeable and grants DIC benefits under Section 1151 of the U.S. Code.

The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was a symptom of ischemic heart disease due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's service connection claims for ureterolithiasis, right shin splints, hypertension, renal cyst, thoracolumbar strain/sprain with scoliosis, chondromalacia patella, status post right knee ACL surgery, and headache syndrome were denied. The Veteran was granted a 10 percent rating for his hypertension starting from August 2, 2018.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, and he receives a 100% disability rating.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine if the Veteran was exposed to asbestos, Agent Orange, and/or paints and solvents while in service. The esophageal and adrenal gland cancers are remanded for further development.

The Board has not found sufficient compliance with previous remand directives and has ordered another remand due to the inadequacy of a recent VA addendum opinion. The remand requires an advisory medical opinion addressing whether the Veteran's cause of death was caused by herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange and Agent Blue, or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and nephrolithiasis/kidney stones are found to have begun during service, warranting service connection. The issue of an increased rating for PTSD is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The issues include undiagnosed illness, diabetic retinopathy and retinal detachment (claimed as blindness), sleep apnea, hypertension, kidney failure, and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability, and hepatitis C was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The Board denied both the claim for service connection for the cause of death and the claim for service connection for hepatitis C for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. He was granted a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral lower extremities, but denied a separate compensable rating for diabetic neuropathy of the bilateral upper extremities.

The Veteran's vocal cord disability and kidney disease are denied as not related to service or secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.,Service connection for COPD, erectile dysfunction, and hypothyroidism is denied as these conditions did not begin during service or are not related to a service-connected condition.,Coronary artery disease is rated at 30% from September 11, 2001 to August 7, 2002, 60% from December 1, 2002 to May 24, 2004, and 30% thereafter. The Veteran's PTSD rating is denied as not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.,The effective date for service connection of mycosis fungoides was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for additional opinions regarding service connection for tobacco use, diabetes, and other conditions listed on the Veteran's death certificate.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance is denied as there is no evidence of helplessness or inability to protect oneself from daily hazards.

The Veteran's service connection claims for bilateral flat feet, unspecified anxiety disorder with posttraumatic stress disorder (psychiatric disability), migraine headaches, and kidney disability have been granted. The claim for acne was denied. Effective November 17, 2015, the Veteran is now receiving a 70 percent rating for his psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hypertension, kidney disorder, and headaches have been denied. The claim for increased rating of coronary artery disease has also been denied.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, blood disorder, penis deformity, renal disability, anemia, purpura, poliomyelitis (claimed as secondary to Camp Lejeune), lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The decision is based on the appellant's reported symptoms and medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 60 percent for chronic renal failure with hypertension due to a lack of supporting evidence regarding symptoms such as lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, or limitation of exertion.