Kidney disease decisions — 2011

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected condition, and the claims for accrued benefits were denied as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development and consideration of his claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertension and kidney disease, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic condition during or within one year after service. The conditions were not shown to be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal cell carcinoma and a kidney disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen her service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the evidence received since the October 2006 rating decision is not new and material.

The Veteran's claim for service connection was denied, and as the appellant did not have a pending claim at the time of his death, accrued benefits are denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of concussions, bilateral hearing loss, and a right shoulder disability. The claim for loss of kidney was not addressed as it is not part of the appeal.

The Veteran's kidney stone disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active service, including claimed exposure to radiation or herbicides. The condition is considered a direct result of the Veteran's hypertension.

The Board has denied service connection for renal cancer, disability of the spine, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and a psychiatric disorder (PTSD) as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's left kidney dysfunction is not service-connected, and the VA treatment did not result in an additional disability.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic renal cell carcinoma, which the VA medical expert opined may have developed as a result of exposure to toxins in service. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise and granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinea versicolor, hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, a heart disability, and kidney stones as there is no current disability associated with these conditions.

The Board granted service connection for coronary artery disease due to herbicide exposure, but denied the other claims.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's renal cell carcinoma and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance (A&A) as he is able to dress, clean himself, and protect himself from daily hazards without assistance.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to address the etiology of the respiratory disorder and the extent of renal involvement in hypertension.

The Veteran's cause of death was anoxic encephalopathy secondary to cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction and failure, acute renal failure needing dialysis, and respiratory failure needing ventilator support. The appellant asserts that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD caused his heart disease, which led to his death. The Board finds that VA records may contain relevant information and requests for such records be made. Additionally, a medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran had an ischemic heart condition before his death and whether it was related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension and found that the Veteran's current cardiovascular, kidney, headache, and psychiatric disabilities are secondary to his service-connected hypertension.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 6, 2007 at Claremore Regional Hospital are not eligible for reimbursement due to his receipt of Medicare insurance.,For the unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 10, 2007 at St. John's Medical Center, reimbursement is denied as the Veteran opted to use his Medicare insurance and remained stable by that date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD. However, the claims for service connection for kidney stones have been denied.