Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran is granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and renal disease, both of which are found to be due to herbicide exposure during his military service. The cause of the Veteran's death is also found to be related to these conditions.

The Veteran's kidney disorder was not shown in service or otherwise linked to his military service. His kidney disorder is not secondary to or aggravated by his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or its treatment.,The Veteran's hypertension first noted in 2004, two years prior to the diagnosis of his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and chemotherapy. The VA examiner opined that it is less likely than not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and verifying the Veteran's in-service stressor.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, left shoulder arthritis, and polycystic kidney disease are not related to service. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's current low back disability, renal failure, and dialysis scars did not have their onset in service or are related to service. The evidence does not support a finding of service connection for these conditions.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus and his death, as well as whether his renal cell carcinoma was related to herbicide exposure. The appellant will be given another opportunity to provide additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to the need for additional medical opinions and consideration of new evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's nephritic syndrome membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, also claimed as a renal condition, is not causally related to his military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's painful scarring and recurrent node are not considered to be the result of VA medical treatment, rehabilitation program, or participation in a compensated work therapy program activity. The appeal is denied.

The Board denied service connection for dysthymic disorder with anxiety features, also claimed as anxiety and depression, to include as secondary to service-connected adenocarcinoma of prostate status post radical prostatectomy.,The Board also denied service connection for depression and anxiety disorder, to include as secondary to a renal cancer tumor.

The earliest date it is factually ascertainable that the Veteran was totally disabled by reason of individual unemployability due to service connected disability is December 7, 2010, the date the combined disability ratings were increased to 70 percent.

The Board found no evidence linking any service-connected condition to the Veteran's death or contributing substantially to his death. The cause of death was listed as respiratory failure due to end stage emphysema, with other conditions contributing such as congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, metastatic renal cell carcinoma with lung involvement and respiratory failure, was not caused or aggravated by his active duty service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for irritable bowel syndrome due to Gulf War Syndrome. The kidney stones claim is remanded as additional medical examination and opinion are needed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and kidney disability due to inadequate medical opinions in previous examinations. The Veteran will need additional VA examinations to address these issues, and a statement of the case will be issued regarding the kidney disability claim.

The Veteran's service connection claims for liver condition (Hepatitis C), heart condition, kidney condition, lung condition, back condition, brain damage, and emotional/behavioral problems have all been granted. The claim for meningitis remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for kidney disability, heart disability, and sleep apnea due to pending issues related to hypertension. The claims will be adjudicated again once the issue of whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for hypertension is resolved.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Counseling records. Additionally, new examinations are needed for his bilateral knee disabilities, inguinal hernia residuals, kidney stone residuals, and hemorrhoids.