Kidney disease decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's disabilities, including chronic pancreatitis, abscesses, anemia, and renal failure, were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill. The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that VA's care resulted in any disability.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be renal cell carcinoma, which is not service-connected. The Board found that diabetes mellitus did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's cause of death and denied the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for hypertension, finding that the Veteran's in-service blood pressure readings were consistent with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension. The opinion from Dr. G.K. supports this conclusion.,Service connection was also established for a kidney disorder as secondary to the service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that there was insufficient evidence to link his death to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that it was not related to his military service.

The Veteran's diagnosed renal cell carcinoma did not have its onset during active service, within one year of service, or result from disease or injury in service, to include herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the submitted evidence is not new and material, thus denying the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of an intravenous injection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension and chronic kidney disease with renal failure are related to his military service, granting the claims for both conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral cataracts, kidney stones, and soft tissue lipomas have been denied as there is no evidence of these conditions in service or within one year of discharge. The Board also found that the high triglycerides are not a disease or disability under VA regulations.

The Veteran's chronic kidney disease is not considered an additional disability proximately caused by VA medical treatment, as the evidence does not support a finding of carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board finds that the Veteran's COPD was aggravated by exposure to contaminated oxygen, leading to worsening of his condition. The kidney tumor is considered secondary to this exposure. No heart disability has been established.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney disease was denied as there is no competent evidence showing that his current condition began during or was aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and thus the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's bilateral pes planus, left ankle disability (arthritis), and recurrent kidney stones are all found to be related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed right and left knee disabilities, hypertension, and renal disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of renal insufficiency or chronic malnutrition, and thus cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's kidney disease is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected coronary artery disease, and thus grants service connection for chronic kidney failure with hypertension.

The Veteran's right renal cell carcinoma is found to be proximately due to or the result of his service-connected hypertension, and thus granted secondary service connection.