The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur additional disability as a result of his March 2005 left partial nephrectomy, and thus compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.
The deciding factor: The independent medical expert concluded that the Veteran's flank bulge was a common postoperative finding for any patient undergoing flank surgery (such as partial or radical nephrectomy), and more likely than not should not be considered significant enough to cause disability.
- Claimed conditions
- left partial nephrectomy, flank bulge
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2015
- Citation
- 1521601
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 1521601.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's diagnosed aortic aneurysm. The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including left partial nephrectomy and ischemic heart disease/atherosclerosis, are not considered in determining whether the aortic aneurysm was caused or aggravated by these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found the reduction from a 60 percent rating to noncompensable for left partial nephrectomy effective December 1, 2020, was proper based on evidence of inactive disease without voiding or urinary dysfunction.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's renal cell carcinoma is caused by his exposure to herbicide agents, specifically Agent Orange. The Board has granted service connection for the condition.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's renal cell carcinoma and left partial nephrectomy are related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange.
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