The Board denied an increased rating for postoperative right nephrectomy and left kidney cyst, finding no evidence of significant impairment warranting a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The medical records did not show definite decrease in kidney function, constant albuminuria with edema, or hypertension requiring more than sedentary activity. The veteran's symptoms were managed with medication and rest, but did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.
- Claimed conditions
- left kidney cyst, postoperative right nephrectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- February 11, 2003
- Citation
- 0302556
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 673 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0302556.
What this means for you
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Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left kidney cyst, migraine headaches, and lung nodule are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine their etiology. The examiner is asked to consider the Veteran's in-service occupation as an auto mechanic and his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and rating determinations due to insufficient evidence in her claims file. Specifically, she needs updated VA treatment records and a new VA examination to determine if her current diagnoses are related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nephrolithiasis, a left kidney cyst, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and a liver cyst due to exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The Board found that neither of these conditions may be presumed to have been caused by such exposure. Additionally, efforts to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure to Agent Orange were unsuccessful.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left kidney cyst is not related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
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