Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video conference hearing on all issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to hazardous materials during service and whether any of these exposures could cause his current conditions, including diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, renal failure, and heart disorder have been granted due to exposure to herbicides while in service.,Service connection is established for the following conditions: Prostate Cancer (due to Agent Orange exposure), Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (due to Agent Orange exposure), Renal Failure (due to Service-Connected Diabetes Mellitus), and Heart Disorder (due to Service-Connected Diabetes Mellitus).

The Veteran's current chronic kidney disease is found to be related to his service-connected hypertension, and thus service connection for the condition is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be kidney cancer, which the VA has found to be related to his presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. As a result, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted. However, as this decision grants service connection, the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is rendered moot and thus dismissed.

The Veteran's metastatic kidney cancer, including renal cell carcinoma and lung metastasis, is as likely as not incurred during his active military service due to presumed exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain a VA examination and opinion regarding the relationship of his current disabilities to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic kidney disease did not originate in service or within a year of service, is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service, and was not caused by a service-connected disability. Therefore, the claim for service connection for chronic kidney disease is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development as requested by the Veteran, including obtaining SSA records and any relevant treatment records from Dr. T. V.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus, arterial sclerotic cardiovascular occlusive disease with partial arterial obstruction, cardiovascular disease, status post coronary artery bypass grafting, chronic renal insufficiency, and hypertension based on substitution.,Service connection is also granted for erectile dysfunction and bilateral peripheral neuropathy as secondary to the now service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his diabetes mellitus and its complications, as well as his erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's chronic infection following a July 2009 splenectomy was not caused by VA negligence or fault, and the event was not reasonably foreseeable. As such, he is not entitled to compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Veteran was assigned a 10 percent rating for renal lithiasis from April 15, 2010, but the Board found that this did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. His claim for condyloma acuminata with HSV II also failed to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for hypertension and granted service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities, as well as a renal disorder. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also addressed in this decision.

The Veteran's kidney disorder, including cancer and loss of a kidney, is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. His acquired psychiatric disorder (depression) claim has been addressed separately.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral cataracts as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board found that there was no direct link between the cataracts and military service, but did find a link to the Veteran's age-related condition.

The Veteran's kidney stones with ureterolithiasis are rated at 80 percent, effective May 29, 2015. The rating is based on generalized poor health characterized by lethargy, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, or limitation of exertion.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to his active duty service.

The Veteran's bladder disorder is found to be etiologically related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim for hepatitis C was granted.