Kidney disease decisions — 2003

The Board denied service connection for kidney disorder, prostate disorder, and blood disorder, finding no evidence linking these conditions to service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for an increased rate of special monthly pension due to her need of regular aid and attendance because she is not blind or nearly blind, is not a patient in a nursing home, and has not demonstrated an inability to care for most of her daily personal needs without regular assistance of another person.

The Board found no evidence of a kidney disease in service or until December 1992, and concluded that the veteran's polycystic kidney disease did not result from an incident of service.

The veteran's death was not due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA in furnishing medical treatment and surgery.

The Board found that the veteran's kidney disorder and neurogenic bladder were not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor are they proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for postoperative right nephrectomy and left kidney cyst, finding no evidence of significant impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney infection disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied her claim.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by service-connected conditions, including his malaria treatment. The cause of death was determined to be ischemic heart disease and chronic renal failure.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death (congestive heart failure, due to/as a consequence of renal failure and diabetes) was not caused or aggravated by his military service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal for the denial of service connection for a bilateral knee disorder as secondary to a service-connected heel spur, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles tendonitis, left foot and ankle; loss of kidney and gallbladder, including as a disability due to undiagnosed illness and as secondary to service-connected kidney stones; and depression and PTSD.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for kidney disease, heart disease, impotency, neck disability, and joint disability as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no direct evidence linking the cancer to service and rejecting any presumption of exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the veteran's kidney removal and aorta artery replacement were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, as there was no credible evidence supporting his claims.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for kidney disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for rhabdomyolysis with joint stiffness and chronic renal disability, finding that there was no current disability or evidence of a nexus to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also dismissed his claim for eligibility to Dependent's Educational Assistance (DEA). The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's fatal conditions to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause his death, and there was no evidence of carelessness or negligence on VA's part. The medical complications surrounding his death were reasonably foreseeable.

The Board finds that the veteran's death was not caused by a disability incurred or aggravated in service, and therefore, denies service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's decreased kidney functioning and edema of both legs were not incurred or aggravated by service. The evidence does not support a connection between these conditions and his military service.