Kidney disease Board decisions

The Veteran's cause of death is alleged to be related to his service in the Republic of Vietnam, specifically due to presumed herbicide exposure. The appeal involves claims for accrued benefits and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found no evidence of a currently diagnosed chronic kidney disorder and determined that the Veteran's statements regarding his symptoms do not constitute competent medical evidence. As such, service connection for a kidney disorder is denied.

The Veteran's prostate disorder and renal cell cancer were not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the conditions to his military service, particularly given the long period between discharge and diagnosis.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability rating, service connection for carcinoma of the tongue and renal lithiasis were denied. The claim for liver lesion was not incurred in active service.

The Veteran's previous denial of service connection for kidney disease was upheld due to the lack of current evidence. The new evidence submitted does not establish a current disability.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for GERD, a disability manifested by liver and spleen enlargement, including as due to his service-connected PTSD, and a disability manifested by dizziness and vertigo, including as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further action, including verifying his address and scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the appellant did not meet the criteria for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ankle sprain did not manifest during service and is therefore denied. However, the Board has found clear and unmistakable evidence of a pre-existing kidney stones condition prior to service. The Board also found no increase in severity of the Veteran's kidney stone condition during service, thus finding aggravation by service.

The Veteran's kidney cancer is not related to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, clarifying an opinion from a February 2007 VA examination, and scheduling the Veteran for an appropriate examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of his kidney disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death (renal failure due to diabetes mellitus and hypertension) was not caused or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's hepatitis C was found to be incurred in service, while his kidney disability is not considered service-connected due to being related to a non-service-connected condition (diabetes mellitus).

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, multiple myeloma, peripheral neuropathy of bilateral upper and lower extremities, hypertension, gout, and residuals of kidney infection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service. The Board found that there was no confirmed exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied the appellant's claim that the Veteran's death was due to a service-connected condition or one that contributed substantially or materially to his death. The evidence did not establish that hepatitis caused liver failure, and there is no clear indication of hepatitis in service.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to a need to determine if the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation in service, which could affect his claims.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have Hepatitis C or Hepatitis B in service and denied these claims. The claim for Chronic Renal Failure was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's testimony regarding his fall and urinary problems is credible, and supports a finding of service connection for an atrophied right kidney. The claim for back condition was dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran's attorney.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and verifying his alleged exposure to herbicides in Korea. The Social Security Administration records will also be obtained.