Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to provide the Veteran with VA examinations and obtain additional medical opinions regarding his HIV, renal disability, neuropathy, psychiatric disabilities, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder was not incurred or aggravated by his active service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The pre-existing condition did not worsen during service.

The Board has remanded the case for an addendum opinion and/or examination to address whether the Veteran's kidney disorder is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression NOS is rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The condition has caused significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's effective date for a 30 percent rating for chronic kidney disease with renal insufficiency associated with hypertension is set at May 12, 2005. This decision resolves the issue of an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim has been granted, and the remaining issues have been dismissed due to withdrawal of claims by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The initial rating for diabetes was not granted, chronic otitis externa did not warrant a compensable rating, the lumbar spine disability received an increased rating but remained at 20 percent, cervical spine disorder, bilateral hip disorder, knee disorder, ankle disorder, kidney disorder (hypertension), heart disorder (hypertension), erectile dysfunction, and peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities were not granted service connection. The Veteran's diabetes was rated as 20 percent disabling.

The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is found to be related to his presumed exposure to Agent Orange herbicides during service, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is found to be secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus II, and thus granted service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of death. The claim for accrued benefits was also denied as there were no pending claims at the time of his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for chronic kidney disease and stress, left ear hearing loss, and tinnitus. The decision found that the NOD regarding these issues was untimely filed.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he withdrew his claims for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD and a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer residuals from June 1, 2009.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (multi-organ failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, decompensated liver disease and hepatorenal syndrome) was not incurred in or due to his active duty service. The peptic ulcer disease condition is considered a contributing factor but did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of a right hip disability or kidney disability related to his active service. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are linked to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, and readjudicating his increased rating claim and TDIU issue.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that hepatitis C did not worsen during his third period of active service and was not aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right kidney cyst is found to be secondary to his service-connected epididymitis, and thus service connection for the condition is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension, urinary incontinence, peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral lower extremities, kidney disorder, and heart disorder. The Board found that these conditions are not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic tension headaches are rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 8100, which is analogous to migraine headaches. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as his headaches do not result in characteristic prostrating attacks averaging once per month.

The Veteran's hypertension with claimed kidney infarct has been evaluated as noncompensable, while his left carpal tunnel syndrome claim remains pending. The Board finds that additional examination and/or development is necessary for the left carpal tunnel syndrome claim.