Kidney disease decisions — 2003

The Board has granted a higher rating of 80 percent for the veteran's service-connected bilateral kidney condition, effective from the date of service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for reopening service connection for a kidney/bladder disorder and hypertension, finding no new and material evidence to support these claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected kidney stones, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under either the old or new rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran did not have current disability manifested by any of the claimed conditions and determined that there was no evidence to support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, including his service-connected back condition.

The Board denied secondary service connection for status post carcinoma of the left kidney, finding that it was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) denied the appellant's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected vesicorenal reflux, grade III, postoperative bilateral ureteroneocystostomy with pyelonephritis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney disease is secondary to his service-connected right knee arthrotomy residuals and grants the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the appellant's heart murmur, diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerotic carotid artery disease, kidney disability, and reflux esophagitis were not incurred or aggravated during active service. The evidence does not support a finding of aggravation.

The Board denied the claim that the veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his death, as there was no evidence showing a causal link between the veteran's service-connected condition and his cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current kidney disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's nonservice-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected kidney stones, as there was no evidence of severe kidney impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for genitourinary conditions, gastrointestinal issues, and eczema. The veteran's claims were based on direct evidence of the conditions during active service.

The appellant claims that his right kidney cancer was caused by exposure to ionizing radiation in service. The Board believes the current dosage estimate is too low and requires further development, including obtaining missing dosimetry information from 1953-60 and 1973, as well as allowing the appellant to submit independent dosage estimates of his own.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that the respiratory disease and cardiovascular-renal disease were not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The VA granted service connection for renal cysts and assigned a noncompensable disability evaluation, which was later increased to 10 percent effective September 5, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and SMC based on his service-connected conditions, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher evaluations under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board denied service connection for kidney disability and peripheral neuropathy claimed as residuals of exposure to Agent Orange, finding that the veteran does not have these conditions due to his service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that neither his service-connected conditions nor any presumed exposure to Agent Orange caused or contributed to his death.