Kidney disease decisions — 2004

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for recurrent amebiasis and a kidney disability, finding no current diagnoses or evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran was not granted any benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's diabetes mellitus was not manifest during service or within one year of discharge, and is not related to his military service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus with secondary disabilities of hypertension and kidney disease was denied.

The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 was denied as the appellant's spouse did not meet the requirements of being continuously rated totally disabled for a period of 10 years or more immediately preceding her husband's death, or five or more years from the date of discharge from service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to comply with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 and to obtain relevant medical records.

The veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the need for further examination and review of his medical records.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examinations to assess the severity of his service-connected conditions, including bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, renal calculi, sinusitis with headaches, prostatitis, and varicose veins. The RO will also obtain any outstanding medical records.

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

The veteran's claims for service connection for respiratory disorder (chronic sinusitis) and residuals of renal cell cancer have been granted. The Board is unsure about the status of his cervical spine disability claim, but secondary service connection has been established for peripheral vascular disease affecting both lower extremities.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death, finding that his causes of death (septic shock, end stage renal failure, and hypotension) were not related to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if any renal disorder is related to service-connected multiple sclerosis or military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a growth on the adrenal gland and a liver problem, finding no evidence of such conditions during service or any link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for renal disability and to a compensable evaluation for his bilateral hearing loss. The evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claims, and there was no new and material evidence presented.

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to diabetes and its complications, including renal failure and coronary artery disease. These conditions were not caused by service-connected residuals of a pleural cavity injury.

The veteran's claims for post-traumatic stress disorder and kidney stones were denied as they are not related to service.

The Board has determined that a more contemporaneous examination is needed to ascertain whether the need for specially adapted housing cited by Dr. Roberts is attributable to specific service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for arteriosclerotic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, choledochocystolithiasis, arthritis, a kidney disorder, and poor vision for accrued benefits purposes.,The claim for service connection for pulmonary tuberculosis was previously denied in 1967 but reopened with new evidence showing the condition was incurred within three years of service.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, metastatic gallbladder cancer, was not service-connected. The Board also denied DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death to his military service.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's death to his military service, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no competent medical evidence linking his death to his military service or any presumptive conditions related to being a POW.