The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral leg disorder, right knee disorder, left knee disorder, and left ear hearing loss. The Veteran was granted a noncompensable rating for his service-connected renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney since February 1, 2010, which was subsequently increased to 40 percent effective October 18, 2012.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence did not support the Veteran's claims for service connection and the Board found that his current disability due to residuals of renal cell carcinoma has been manifested by partial left nephrectomy with hypertension with history diastolic pressure above 100 that required continuous medication, non-painful and stable residual surgical scars, and urinary frequency with awakening to void less than five times a night and without urinary leakage or obstruction.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral leg disorder (claimed as radiculopathy), Right knee disorder, Left knee disorder, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 17, 2017
- Citation
- 1701196
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1701196.
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: Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran's left ear hearing loss disability does not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable (10%) disability rating at any point during the appeal period.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right ear hearing loss and service connection for left ear hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric examinations. The Veteran will be scheduled for new VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his left ear hearing loss and the severity of his hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection and TDIU due to duty to assist errors that occurred prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Veteran's right knee disorder is being remanded for an addendum opinion regarding its etiology.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in notifying the Veteran of his right to a hearing, and not because of any issues with service connection.
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