Kidney disease decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left ankle, fibula, and tibia fracture; hypertension; irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease; kidney stones; and multiple angiolipomas.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is denied as there was no evidence of incapacitation preventing him from filing his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cystic acne, loss of the left kidney, and sterility due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam as not well grounded.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for back disability is not well grounded due to lack of a chronic disability in service and inconsistent post-service medical history.,The Board also denied claims for service connection for right ankle disability, headaches, epitaxis (nose bleeds), and kidney stones.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's heart disorder, pulmonary disorder, and stroke (cerebrovascular accident) as aggravated by his service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety and conversion. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, prostate disorder, and orchialgia.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmias due to hypertension and diabetes, with chronic renal failure as a contributory cause.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, kidney condition, right epicondylitis (claimed as a right forearm condition), and low back disorder. The only conditions granted were right hip arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of renal disease with proteinuria and hypertension, finding that her original claim was abandoned due to her failure to respond to notification of a VA examination scheduled in 1987. The effective date remains January 27, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD could have contributed to his cause of death, and thus the claim for service connection for the cause of death is well-grounded.

The Board denied both claims: service connection for multiple cancerous tumors secondary to exposure to Agent Orange herbicide and the cause of death. The claim was not well grounded as there is no evidence linking the veteran's renal carcinoma to his active military service or to his exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection due to a lack of timely submission of a substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney/bladder disorder and bilateral lower extremity edema, but granted service connection for hypothyroidism and gastroesophageal reflux disorder with appropriate ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if the conditions he is claiming are related to his military service.

The veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to educational assistance benefits.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, gunshot wound to muscle group XIX, removal of the left kidney, lumbosacral strain with arthritis and sacroilitis, status post gastric resection, small bowel resection and previous colostomy with dumping syndrome, and a muscle bulge associated with ventral and incisional hernia, preclude him from obtaining and retaining all forms of substantially gainful employment. As such, the veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The veteran died from multiple conditions, but there is no evidence linking these conditions to service. The appellant's claim for service connection was not well-grounded.

The veteran died from chronic renal failure, but his service-connected conditions did not cause or substantially contribute to his death. The appellant's claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as the veteran did not meet the criteria for entitlement.

The veteran's appeals for increased ratings for various service-connected conditions have been denied. The RO found that the current manifestations of his COPD, hypertension, and low back disability do not warrant higher ratings under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of her husband's death is not well grounded. The medical evidence does not support a link between the veteran's death and his military service.

The Board denied the claim for VA benefits for the veteran's son as a helpless child of the veteran due to lack of evidence showing his condition at or before age 18.