Kidney disease decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not substantially or materially contribute to his death, and thus denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.

The Veteran's death was caused by end stage renal disease, which is considered service-connected.,The Veteran also had other conditions such as COPD and peripheral vascular disease that contributed to his death.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of death due to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) related to presumed in-service exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is dismissed as moot.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and issues related to verifying a claimed stressor for PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to clarify when the Veteran was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and whether his chronic renal insufficiency is related to his service-connected diabetes. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current hemorrhoids are etiologically related to his active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The remaining issues of entitlement to service connection for a kidney disorder, peptic ulcer disease, and diverticulosis have been remanded for further development.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at CVPH from February 17, 2010 to March 1, 2010 were denied as the treatment was no longer deemed necessary due to stabilization.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic left kidney stones, but denied the claim for chronic right kidney stones due to lack of evidence showing a current disability during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for various disabilities, including kidney disability, bilateral hearing loss, cervical spine disability, head injury residuals, left clavicle injury residuals, low back disability, and sciatica. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's claims for chronic low back disorder and sleep apnea were denied as there is no evidence of current diagnoses. The claim for kidney disorder was not addressed due to the lack of secondary service connection consideration.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left kidney disorder. The Veteran's current diagnosis of glomerulonephritis of the left kidney is found to be related to his active military service, with equipoise in determining whether the in-service albuminuria was indicative of future disease.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for drug and alcohol dependence, bilateral shoulder disorder, headache disorder, kidney disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, disturbances of motivation and mood), loss of smell, scars of the feet, and right eye disorder as they are not shown to have had their clinical onset during service or to be caused by a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, resulting in a denial.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney stones were not incurred in or aggravated by active service, and are not proximately due to or the result of his service-connected malaria and diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's death was caused by septic shock due to renal stone disease, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease. The Board found that these conditions were not service-connected.

The Board denied reopening the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been received to support the claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a chronic renal condition, which he claims is due to lithium toxicity. The case has been remanded for clarification of the current status of his kidney disorder and an opinion on its etiology.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and there is no evidence showing it was caused by a disease or injury in service. The appellant's argument regarding medications taken during service to treat his left hand injury could not be substantiated.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's end stage renal disease, including whether it is related to service or aggravated by diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's service is not considered to meet the criteria for basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to insufficient qualifying military service during a period of war.