The Board denied service connection for left radical nephrectomy, finding that the Veteran's condition was not caused or aggravated by prescribed medications (Gabapentin and Tramadol) related to his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a causal relationship between the Veteran's prescribed medications and his kidney cancer diagnosis leading to the need for left radical nephrectomy.
- Claimed conditions
- left radical nephrectomy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2021
- Citation
- 21042184
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 21042184.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and left radical nephrectomy.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the previously denied claim for service connection for a kidney disorder, including renal cysts, renal cell carcinoma, and left radical nephrectomy. The Veteran's claims for gout of the upper and lower extremities are also remanded due to their inextricability with the kidney disorder claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of kidney cancer is granted due to presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune during his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for status post right renal transplant due to end stage renal disease, as well as his separate compensable rating for the left radical nephrectomy based on paired organ pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1160. The case is remanded for further development and evaluation.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.