Kidney disease decisions — 2007

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected diabetes mellitus, type II did not cause or contribute to his death from hepatic encephalopathy due to cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis C and alcoholism. The Board concluded that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that there was no evidence of a causal connection between these conditions and his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted the veteran's petition to reopen his claims for service connection for PTSD and liver disease, but denied his claim for right renal calculus (claimed as blood in urine). The decision is mixed, with some issues being granted and others not.

The Board has determined that the veteran's end stage renal disease is at least as likely as not related to his service, including his in-service proteinuria. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's COPD was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection. The issue of compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular disorder, heart attack, pneumonia, chronic renal failure, and a visual field loss as a result of surgery performed during hospitalization at a VA facility between December 1998 and February 1999 is addressed in the REMAND portion of the decision.

The veteran is seeking service connection for kidney failure due to exposure to ionizing radiation during his military service. The case has been remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has determined that service connection is not warranted for any of the claimed disabilities.

The veteran's service-connected renal disability does not meet the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1114(k) due to anatomical loss of kidneys.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO/AMC for further action, including obtaining additional evidence related to the veteran's PTSD claim and ensuring that he is provided proper VCAA notice. The claims for service connection for kidney cancer and PTSD are being remanded due to procedural deficiencies.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues include reopening service connection claims for various conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hemorrhoids, fatigue, dizziness, a kidney disorder, headaches, and a psychiatric disorder due to undiagnosed illness. The evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link between active duty and these conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for chronic kidney disability as there is no current diagnosis of a chronic kidney disorder related to his service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, including as the result of exposure to Agent Orange. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's fatal conditions to his active service or a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's kidney failure was not caused by VA's negligence in prescribing Mesalamine, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including left knee, genitourinary, left foot, and right ankle disabilities. The claim of service connection for schizophrenia was also denied. No new evidence to reopen the TB claim was presented.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for renal cell carcinoma and a temporary total evaluation following surgery, but granted a separate evaluation for his surgical scar.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has determined that service connection for chronic renal insufficiency is granted as secondary to the aggravation from the service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board found that the cause of death was not caused by a service-connected disability and denied both claims for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 and service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hypertension, cardiomyopathy, chronic renal insufficiency, and CVA are not etiologically related to his service-connected ulcerative colitis.