Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have status as a veteran during any period of active duty for training (ADT) or inactive duty training (IDT). Therefore, her claims seeking service connection for renal failure and bilateral foot disability are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including chronic renal failure and hypertension, rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to June 21, 2007. As of that date, the maximum disability rating available for end stage renal disease was granted, making the question of TDIU moot.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides. His claims for increased rating and individual unemployability were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for microscopic hematuria, status post renal contusion is being remanded due to the need for further development and testing.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was granted, and his claim for service connection for disc disease, L4-L5 and L5-S1 with scoliosis was reopened. The rating for stricture of the urethra was increased to 60 percent.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. His kidney stones have not resulted in recurrent stone formation or attacks of colic requiring catheter drainage, warranting a noncompensable rating. His sinusitis has not met the criteria for a higher than 10 percent evaluation.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and arranging for VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney stones are proximately due to, or the result of his service-connected residuals of small bowel resection.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the Board finds that the left knee disability did not contribute to his death or cause any of the conditions listed. Service connection would not have been warranted for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Veteran is found to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his physical and mental incapacity, which requires care or assistance on a regular basis to protect him from hazards or dangers incident to his daily environment. The Board has granted the special monthly pension based on this finding.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused or materially affected by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied reopening the Veteran's claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's disability rating for his right and left kidney disorder was increased to 60 percent effective July 13, 2007. The decision also noted that the Veteran has claimed entitlement to service connection for a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) as secondary to his service-connected disability of the kidneys.

The Veteran's service connection claim for coronary artery disease is granted due to presumed exposure to herbicides. The claims for kidney condition and right jaw line squamous cell carcinoma are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's polycystic renal disease is currently rated at 30 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his condition is asymptomatic and does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7533.

The Board found that the Veteran did not innocently acquire hepatitis C infection during active service and denied claims for service connection for chronic renal failure, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. The evidence showed no direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence to support the Veteran's assertions that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private treatment records, as well as a need for further examination regarding the Veteran's HIV.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or other presumptive conditions. The claims for service connection and DIC were therefore denied.

The Veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and stressor verification.