Kidney disease decisions — 2007

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied the claim for aid and attendance benefits on an accrued basis.

The Board has determined that none of the veteran's service-connected disabilities were a contributing cause to his death, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a nephrologist examination. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of service connection for a back disability are also pending.

The veteran's death was caused by, or substantially contributed to by, a disorder incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board found that the criteria under 38 C.F.R. § 3.307(a)(6)(ii) and § 3.309(e) were met, thereby relating the veteran's lung cancer to service on a presumptive basis.

The Board has determined that new evidence submitted by the veteran does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim for service connection of abdominal cramping, fatty liver, cysts on the kidneys, and acid reflux disease. As such, the claim is denied.

The Board denied the petition to reopen the claim for service connection for PTSD and found that there is no competent medical evidence linking any of the claimed disabilities, including PTSD, kidney disability, liver disability, or hypertension, to service. The veteran's claims were not granted.

The Board has determined that further development is needed for the veteran's claims of service connection due to radiation exposure, asbestos exposure, and other conditions. The case is being remanded for additional examinations and opinions.

The VA determined that the veteran's renal failure was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA during his colonoscopy and subsequent treatment. The Board found no evidence to support a finding of fault.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of hepatitis, a kidney disorder, and hypertension as there is no current evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a new hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for sickle cell trait with anemia and history of papillary necrosis of the kidneys, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling, and service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the extremities as secondary to sickle cell trait with anemia and history of papillary necrosis of the kidneys, and hematuria.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his urethral stricture with chronic renal insufficiency is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and supplemental notice letter.

The veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not entitled to DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as he did not meet the required criteria for total disability rating.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic, undifferentiated type schizophrenia and G6PD deficiency (claimed as anemia), malaria, and a renal condition secondary to G6PD deficiency.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a new medical examination to determine if the veteran's kidney and bladder disorders are secondary to his service-connected prostatitis with left varicocele.

The veteran was not eligible for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) because he had not been granted a specially adapted housing grant before his death, and the necessary information to approve such a grant were not known at the time of his death.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of current disabilities or a link to service.

The Board denied service connection for a renal disorder and back disability as the result of exposure to radiation in January 1994 and February 1981. The veteran's motion alleging clear and unmistakable error (CUE) was denied.

The Board denied service connection for the appellant's claimed prostate disorder, kidney/renal disease, multiple cysts on the kidneys, peripheral neuropathy, bipolar disorder, osteoarthritis, hypertension, heart disease, and gout, all of which were alleged to be related to herbicide exposure during his reserve service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.