Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that additional efforts are needed to obtain relevant medical records and lay witness statements, which may impact the determination of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and due process issues, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the impact of service-connected disabilities on the Veteran's employability.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not result in an inability to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension prior to May 14, 2014 are denied. As of May 14, 2014, his claim for diabetic nephropathy with hypertension is also denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for kidney cancer and bladder cancer has been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of both claims.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's hypertension and its relationship to his service-connected conditions, including removal of right kidney.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his Merchant Marine service constitutes 'active service' and to schedule him for appropriate examination to determine the nature and etiology of his renal kidney disease.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) due to the need for aid and attendance of another person or on account of being housebound is REMANDED. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining necessary medical opinions.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for residuals of renal trauma from August 3, 2006 to May 17, 2010 and a 100 percent rating from May 18, 2010 to November 9, 2011. The Veteran is also granted TDIU.

The Board has granted a 100 percent initial rating for depressive disorder NOS effective May 14, 2010.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability did not begin in service and is not related to his active duty. However, it arose within one year of his separation from service.,The Veteran was hospitalized for a kidney stone in October 1989, which he reported as occurring during service. The condition manifested to a compensable degree within the first year after separation from service.

The Veteran has withdrawn all issues on appeal with the Board.

The Veteran's kidney cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, including presumed exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to assess the functional effects of his service-connected disabilities on his employability.

The Veteran's death was due to metastatic renal cell cancer and hemorrhagic stroke. The appellant argued that her husband's Parkinson's disease contributed to his fall, which led to the stroke and ultimately his death. The medical evidence supports this claim, as a private physician opined that Parkinson's disease was a contributing factor to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a need for additional information regarding prior authorization and the availability of VA facilities. The case will be adjudicated again based on this new information.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was coronary artery disease, ischemic cardiomyopathy, severe peripheral vascular disease, and chronic renal failure. These conditions were not caused by any incident of service, including probable asbestos exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including consideration of service connection claims and obtaining a VA examination to assess the relationship between his claimed disabilities and exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and requesting a medical opinion regarding the nature and likely etiology of the Veteran's kidney disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The issues of service connection for hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and a rating in excess of 20 percent for type 2 diabetes mellitus are being addressed.