Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records from Oak Knoll Naval Hospital and seeking any additional relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for renal insufficiency is denied. The VA compensation payment amount resulting from the May 2013 rating decision, which granted a 30 percent disability rating effective from December 28, 2000, for the renal disability, was proper.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct or presumptive relationship between his kidney cancer and his military service. The Board also found insufficient evidence to link his cause of death to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was entitled to a TDIU as of November 27, 2007, based on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's ureteral obstruction disability resulting from VA surgery on March 1, 2010 is rated at 100 percent for the entire period on appeal due to markedly decreased function of kidney and other organ systems precluding more than sedentary activity.

The Board finds that the Veteran's combined service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, effective as of April 30, 2010.

The Veteran's kidney disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to determine if it was caused or worsened by his service-connected ischemic heart disease. Additional treatment records are also needed.

The Board has determined that further action is needed to adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus disability.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a congenital kidney disorder with kidney removal was denied. The appeal is based on the reopening of his previously denied claim and submission of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to non-compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding obtaining a VA examination and opinions on the etiology of chronic kidney disease. The Veteran's current condition is being evaluated for potential connection to service exposure.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, diagnosed as stage III kidney disease and renal artery stenosis, is not service-connected. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a finding of secondary service connection to his service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD). Additionally, the Veteran's current service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for TDIU under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions and reviewing new evidence.

The Board has remanded the appeal for further development due to failure to substantially comply with previous instructions.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals on all issues, including the rating for hemorrhoids and service connection claims related to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is presumed to be related to his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during service, and the Board finds this presumption sufficient for granting service connection.

The Veteran requested to withdraw all issues on appeal, and the Board has dismissed the appeal due to this request.

The Veteran's combined rating for his service-connected conditions is 90 percent, which meets the criteria for a total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. However, the evidence does not support a finding that he is unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to these conditions.

The Veteran's additional disabilities, including heparin induced thrombosis and kidney infarct with chronic renal disease and anemia, are not considered to be caused by VA carelessness or negligence.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that there was no evidence linking any VA treatment to the Veteran's death.