Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal cell carcinoma is not related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides. The evidence does not support a presumption of service connection based on herbicide exposure or direct service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and development to determine if the veteran is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities, including PTSD and diabetes.

The veteran's claims for service connection for chronic renal failure and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The veteran's claimed disabilities, including rheumatoid arthritis and orthopedic conditions affecting the left knee and right foot, colon polyps, Peyronie's disease, kidney stones, inguinal hernias, and cataracts, were not found to be related to his service or exposure to herbicides during his Vietnam-era service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a right shoulder disorder, low back pain, and kidney disorder. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence. Service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus were also denied.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected and he did not have a permanent service-connected disability at the time of his death, thus denying both claims.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore the claims for service connection for the cause of death, burial benefits, and accrued benefits are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining VA medical records and providing additional VCAA notice.

The Board found that the cause of death was not due to service or VA treatment, and denied the DIC claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection for fatigue, joint aches and pains, and kidney stones due to an undiagnosed illness were denied. His right thumb disability was rated as noncompensable prior to September 22, 2005, but granted a 10% rating beginning that date.

The Board found that the veteran's polycystic kidney disease, hypertension, and chronic renal insufficiency with albuminuria do not warrant a disability rating greater than 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates, finding that the evidence did not support an increased rating or earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for a skin disorder of the feet or kidney stones. The veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for PTSD and a scar of the right hip, as well as TDIU, are addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for diabetes mellitus and service connection for renal carcinoma and metastatic carcinoma to the lungs, finding that there was no evidence of a direct or secondary relationship between these conditions and his military service. The lapse of time since separation from service also weighed against granting service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right side pain, kidney condition, diabetes mellitus, skin rashes, and vision problems. The denial was based on a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in service or due to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for the claimed conditions, as they are not related to service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board found that the cause of death, hepatic encephalopathy, was not related to service-connected conditions and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (cardiopulmonary arrest) was not caused by any service-connected disability. The appellant could not provide evidence linking her husband's terminal conditions to his military service, and there is no medical evidence connecting these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's recurrent renal calculi, which is manifested by recurrent stone formation requiring invasive or non-invasive procedures more than twice a year and occasional pain medication, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The veteran has been granted service connection for bilateral Achilles tendonitis, residuals of a right fourth finger injury, and kidney stone (nephrolithiasis). Service connection was denied for bilateral hearing loss.,Service connection is established for the following conditions: bilateral Achilles tendonitis, residuals of a right fourth finger injury, and nephrolithiasis. The veteran's service connection claim for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.