Kidney disease decisions — 2005

The Board has remanded the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his left elbow disability and the reopening of his diabetes mellitus with related kidney complications claim. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

The veteran's causes of death (renal failure, dehydration, and sepsis) are not related to his service-connected shell fragment wounds. The Board finds that these conditions were not the principal or contributory cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current renal calculi or left thumb scar disabilities and denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that no service-connected disability caused or contributed substantially to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the cause of death, ischemic cardiomyopathy due to coronary artery disease, was not related to service or a service-connected disability. The veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to new evidence and outstanding treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to obtain medical records and determine if there was an immediate post-service hospitalization for hepatitis.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including malaria, rheumatism/arthritis, PTB, malnutrition, an eye disorder, hearing loss, and a kidney disorder. The veteran did not submit sufficient medical evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's claims for service connection for his right kidney cancer, spleen and adrenal gland conditions are being remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is necessary to determine if the veteran's current hypertension and kidney disorder are related to service. The RO must also obtain any relevant private treatment records from the 1980s.

The appellant's claim for accrued benefits due to her spouse's death was denied because the claim was not filed within one year of the veteran's death. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's renal failure was not caused by VA treatment, but rather due to his pre-existing conditions and medication use. The decision concluded that compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied.

The VA denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected transurethral resection of the prostate and bladder neck, with a history of atonic bladder and kidney stones. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for residuals of left kidney removal due to cancer, finding that the veteran's current symptoms do not warrant a rating higher than 30 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current bowel disorder, or any other claimed conditions. He was already receiving the maximum schedular rating for his scars.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not related to his military service and did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found no evidence of diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure during service and denied the claims based on lack of a nexus to service.

The veteran's claims for service connection for gout, hypertension, and kidney disability are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining medical records and a nexus opinion.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis B positive antibody, atrophy of the left kidney, and hypertension as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The veteran did not have any chronic infections or significant medical history related to these conditions during service.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of hemorrhagic fever with hypertension, retinal arteriosclerosis, renal impairment, and inability to concentrate urine are currently rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating under Diagnostic Code 7502.