Kidney disease decisions — 2007

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to rectum cancer and renal failure, finding that the veteran's condition was related to exposure to ionizing radiation from the Chernobyl accident in 1986.

The veteran died due to infection caused by renal insufficiency and vasculopathy. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of death and dependency and indemnity compensation.

The veteran's hypertension and kidney disease are not service-connected, as they pre-existed her military service. The September 1997 pancreatitis episode did not cause or aggravate these conditions.,VA compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for the veteran's hypertension and kidney disease is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition, kidney condition, and congenital camptodactyly of the right hand. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and service.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding service connection for chronic hypertension, a chronic gastrointestinal disorder to include GERD, and a chronic kidney disorder; the assignment of an initial 20 percent evaluation for his Type II diabetes mellitus with cataracts; and the assignment of initial 10 percent evaluations for his right upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied, and the RO found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen his claims. The GERD with hiatal hernia claim was granted based on secondary service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service medical records and treatment records from identified healthcare providers. The RO will also verify a denied claim of service connection for diabetes mellitus in 1989 and determine if the veteran's diabetes mellitus contributed to his death.

The Board has denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to lack of evidence linking any in-service injury or disease to the veteran's death.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for head injury residuals, right kidney disability, heart disability, and left ear sensorineural hearing loss due to a lack of competent medical evidence supporting these conditions.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected renal disease, status post renal transplant and status post coronary artery bypass graft and hypertension, finding that the symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and further development of his claims.