Kidney disease decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disorder and back pain are service-connected, with no indication of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased rating of his kidney disability and dismissed the issue of service connection for left ear hearing loss due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Veteran's mental faculty reduction and death were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar instance of fault. The Veteran died due to end-stage kidney failure.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney disease and a back condition, as well as his claim for increased rating for PTSD. The Board found no evidence of a relationship between these conditions and his active military service.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for cause of death. The Veteran's death was attributed to multiple organ failure due to coronary artery disease, with contributory factors including cardiovascular disease, hepatitis, alcohol consumption, and Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for hepatitis C, a wart condition as secondary to hepatitis C, a kidney condition as secondary to hepatitis C, and a prostate condition as secondary to hepatitis C are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran did not serve on active duty during a period of war, thus denying his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at West Jefferson Medical Center on March 16, 2006 is granted as the criteria for emergency treatment were met.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for a hearing at the RO before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and renal insufficiency status post left nephrectomy are being remanded due to the need for further medical examination and opinion regarding whether these conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied. The Board found no evidence of congestive heart failure during or within one year after service, and the claim was not related to any service-connected disability.

The appellant seeks nonservice-connected pension benefits due to unemployability caused by various medical conditions. The case is remanded for further examination and rating of his disabilities.

The Board found that the appellant's emergency treatment for a kidney stone was considered emergent by a prudent layperson, and thus met the criteria for reimbursement under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act.

The appellant's claim for VA compensation for birth defects of a child born to a Vietnam veteran is denied as there is no legal merit due to the absence of spina bifida in his mother, who served in the military but not in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral kidney disorder and a urination disorder have been denied. The decision is based on the absence of diagnosed conditions in his service records and post-service medical history.

The Veteran's kidney disorder was not found to be service-connected. The Board determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, thus denying his claim for TDIU.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's service connection claims for diphtheria, kidney infection, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD, depression, sleep disorder), diabetes mellitus, macular degeneration, bilateral knee disorder, and hypertension. However, the criteria for reopening these claims have not all been met.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his kidney disability have been denied by the RO.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency, service connection for nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), and hearing loss are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and records review.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and for special monthly compensation due to need for regular aid and attendance, finding that there was no evidence linking the conditions from which the Veteran died to his period of service.