Kidney disease Board decisions

The VA determined that adenocarcinoma of the left kidney was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation for service-connected status post scrotal laceration from 30 percent to 10 percent was proper. The rating reduction did not result in a loss of compensation payments, as it was effective on February 1, 2004. For his service-connected retroperitoneal fibrosis with left kidney removal and stent on the right, the Board found that the veteran's condition does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart and kidney conditions, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for loss of a kidney secondary to renal cell carcinoma, claiming it was due to exposure to herbicides. The evidence did not support a finding that his condition was related to his military service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from Maimonides Medical Center and Dr. Berger, to adjudicate the claim under the theory that the veteran's service-connected prostate gland disability contributed to his death.

The Board has remanded the case for compliance with an August 2005 Court decision, to include obtaining a VA examination. The veteran's service medical records show that he underwent surgery to remove his left kidney while in service. The claim will be reviewed again after the new evidence is obtained and evaluated.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney stones, residuals of an injury of the eye, and left shoulder disorder. The veteran is not shown to have a current disability related to these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding no evidence linking any current disabilities to his military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the veteran's service connection claim for a right kidney disorder. The VA examination in April 2006 concluded it is as likely as not that the atrophic right kidney is a sequelae of a fall during service, but less likely than not to represent a congenital or developmental defect.

The VA denied an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for the service-connected residuals of a left nephrectomy and did not grant entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's coronary ectasia with infarction of the right kidney is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his fatal heart and kidney conditions to his military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for a genitourinary disorder, claimed as a kidney condition. However, the claim was denied on the merits because there is no evidence that the current chronic kidney failure began during military service or is otherwise attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for initial consideration of additional evidence, including VA treatment records from April 2001 to July 2005. The veteran was not provided with a waiver of AOJ review prior to appellate review.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to cardiovascular/renal disease, finding no evidence that a service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to his death.,Additional burial benefits were not granted as the appellant was already provided funeral and burial expenses based on her husband's nonservice-connected death.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Baxter Regional Medical Center from June 12, 2003 to June 14, 2003 were granted as the VA facility was not feasibly available and an attempt to use them before hand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent lay person.

The Board denied service connection for colon and renal cancer claimed due to exposure to Agent Orange, as there is no evidence linking these cancers to active service or to a service-connected disability. The claim was also denied for increased ratings for the veteran's left and right knees.

The veteran's renal parenchymal disease, left, status post surgery of left ureter and kidney is rated at 60 percent. The other issues are not granted.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and records of relevant treatment. The issues include seeking a higher disability rating for his G6PD deficiency condition and determining appropriate effective dates for service connection and TDIU.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for liver and kidney disorders, finding no competent evidence linking these conditions to his military service or to his service-connected right knee disorder.