Kidney disease decisions — 2005

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and he was not granted any new ratings or benefits.

The veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disorder before the Board could make a decision.

The veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic kidney disorder, bilateral hearing loss disability, and asbestosis are being remanded due to incomplete records. The VA will request copies of his service medical records and any relevant treatment records from the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center. A VA examination is also needed to determine the nature and severity of his bilateral hearing loss disability.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations and the acquisition of medical records.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including VA examinations and consideration of additional evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a status post hysterectomy and kidney disorder, finding no evidence that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore a 60 percent evaluation for his kidney disorder and his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The RO reduced the veteran's evaluation from 60 to 30 percent, effective June 1, 2000. The evidence did not meet the criteria for restoration of the higher evaluation.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to rectal cancer and renal failure, finding that the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during his time in Europe after the Chernobyl accident is relevant to his claim.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of evidence showing a link between his tuberculosis and service.,The claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 was also denied as there is no evidence that the veteran's death from tuberculosis was caused or hastened by treatment at VA facilities in the 1960s.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by his military service, and therefore denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's service-connected lumbar disability was not found to warrant an increased evaluation, and his claims for other conditions were denied.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent kidney stones, and degenerative joint disease of the knees as these conditions were not shown to be related to service or any inservice disease or injury.

The Board denied reopening the claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Board has denied all service connection claims for various conditions, finding that the evidence does not support a causal link between any of these conditions and active military service.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II; kidney cancer; bladder cancer; or macular degeneration in service or for many years thereafter, and no competent evidence of a nexus between these disorders and his period of active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sarcoidosis and renal failure, finding no evidence to support a direct relationship with his military service or herbicide exposure.

The veteran's cause of death was listed as coronary artery disease, but the VA examiner found that rheumatic heart disease was a contributory factor. The case is being remanded for further review and clarification.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking the veteran's brain tumor or renal failure to his military service.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected Addison's disease does not currently meet the criteria for an increased disability rating.

The veteran's medical condition, due to multiple service-connected disabilities, resulted in him being unable to walk without assistance and requiring a wheelchair. The Board finds that his loss of use of both feet meets the criteria for SMC based on accrued benefits purposes.