Kidney disease decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the veteran's current kidney disorder and frostbite of the hands and feet are related to service, while nicotine dependence and resulting emphysema are not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his multiple disabilities, including chronic low back pain, cerebrovascular accident, seizures, high blood pressure, diverticulosis of the colon, glaucoma, cataracts, prostate cancer, arthritis, renal lithiasis, and myocardial infarcts. The decision is based on the veteran's need for regular aid and assistance due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed back disorder, kidney disorder to include a urinary disorder, and psychiatric disorder were not incurred in or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and requests further development, including VA examinations.

The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, deviated nasal septum, sleep apnea, and chronic renal insufficiency due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The veteran's military records are unavailable.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations to determine the etiology of the veteran's hypertension and renal condition.

Service connection for migraines and stomach disorder (claimed as gastritis and spastic colon) was denied.,Service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ankle fracture residuals, pes planus, thoracic spine disorder, kidney stones, sinusitis/rhinitis/allergies, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), skin tumors (presumed due to herbicide exposure), arteriosclerotic heart disease (ASHD), and sleep apnea was denied.,Service connection for right ankle fracture residuals was granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a kidney disability, manifested by hematuria, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and noting that hematuria alone is not considered a disability for which service connection may be established.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange and his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a link between these factors and the cause of death.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus has aggravated his renal dysfunction beyond its natural progression, and grants service connection for kidney dysfunction.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for renal insufficiency as secondary to his service-connected thoracic spine disability. The bone density condition claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for kidney failure and prostate cancer, which were allegedly caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The negative opinions from VA experts regarding a link between the conditions and the radiation exposure were considered more probative than the veteran's assertions.

The Board denied service connection for a kidney disorder and the residuals of shrapnel wounds to the left eyebrow and left hand, finding no new and material evidence presented to reopen the kidney disorder claim.

The veteran's claim for service connection for malaria has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection.,The veteran's claim for increased rating for residuals of renal colic prior to September 23, 2003, and thereafter remains denied.,The veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for tinea cruris has been granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for GERD is granted, and the issues of kidney stones, IBS, hypertension, and familial tremor are remanded for further development.

The Board found that the veteran's kidney failure is not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for service connection are being REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC) in Washington, DC. The case will be returned to the Board for further appellate consideration if appropriate.

The veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities are granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned for the upper gastrointestinal disability (GERD).

The Board found that the veteran's retroperitoneal fibrosis, anemia, and renal insufficiency were not caused by VA medical care, leading to a denial of his claim.

The Board denied all service connection claims, finding no evidence of the claimed conditions or stressors in service. The veteran's claims for PTSD and an unspecified disorder due to herbicide exposure were not supported by credible supporting evidence as required under VA regulations. Service connection was also denied for a kidney disorder, right knee disorder, left arm disorder, and chronic fever.