Kidney disease decisions — 2010

The Veteran's chronic kidney disability manifested by kidney stones is not considered a current diagnosis and was denied. The Veteran's pulmonary sarcoidosis, however, has been service-connected as related to his COPD.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for polycystic liver condition, kidney failure, and major depressive disorder. The denial is based on a lack of current disability for polycystic liver condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for the effects of a heat stroke incident during military service, including kidney damage. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and conduct further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed kidney disorder and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of urinary tract infections, kidney disability, and nephritis are not related to service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple conditions, including nausea, diarrhea, bleeding, increased susceptibility to infection, blood clots in legs, scars from infected scratches, pneumonia, high fever, rare virus, skin peeling off body, vomiting, growth on kidneys, boil on genitals, intestinal polyp, diverticulosis (claimed as irritation and small tear in intestine), pancreatitis (claimed as pancreas infection), headaches (claimed as pain on the side of his head), paroxysmal positional vertigo (claimed as inner ear problems with dizziness), memory loss and anxiety, coronary artery disease (claimed as heart attack), and pilonidal cyst were denied. The Veteran's only service-connected disability is malaria, rated noncompensably disabling.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death and hypertension, finding no evidence to support these claims.

The Veteran's appeal involves the propriety of rating reductions for his service-connected Henoch-Schonlein Purpura and status post kidney transplant disabilities. The Board has determined that further development is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new evidence. However, it denied her increased pension benefits as she does not meet the criteria for aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at the Wuesthoff ER on October 6, 2003 is granted as his condition was an emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran meets the criteria for special monthly pension based on a need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including heart disease with coronary artery disease and moderate to severe heart failure. He also qualifies for housebound benefits as he is over 65 years old and has multiple service-connected conditions that independently rate at or above 60 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, renal disability, and upper and lower extremity disabilities were not incurred or aggravated by service. The claims are denied.

The Board has ordered additional development to address whether the Veteran's service-connected diabetes contributed to his cause of death and acute renal failure.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records.

The Veteran's initial and staged ratings for renal cell carcinoma have been granted, with a 30 percent rating effective September 23, 2003. The issue of a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied. The Board has remanded the case to obtain additional medical records and to schedule the Veteran for VA examinations.

The Veteran is granted benefits for loss of a paired organ due to his right kidney transplant and removal of the left kidney. The effective date remains October 11, 2005.

The Board found that the Veteran's hypertension and kidney disorder are not related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and thus denied both claims.