Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence to support a finding that any condition not yet service-connected contributed to the Veteran's death. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have hepatitis B or C as a result of VA medical treatment.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of Interferon treatment, as the newly submitted evidence does not show that the claimed side effects were caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical personnel.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation due to the severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus, as well as her request for retroactive payment based on an earlier effective date.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of kidney stones, and thus the Veteran's claim for service connection for kidney stones is denied. The claims for initial compensable ratings for chronic upper back disability and chronic low back disability are remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for renal cell carcinoma with right nephrectomy due to new evidence received since the last denial. The Veteran's current diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma is presumed related to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sickle cell anemia clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. As such, service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not contribute to his death. The Board found that the immediate cause of death was myocardial infarction, but ruled out a causal link between his service-connected bilateral nephrolithiasis and his renal failure.

The Board found that the cause of death was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and may not be presumed to have been so incurred or aggravated. The Veteran's disabilities, including hypertension and coronary artery disease, were initially demonstrated years after service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bladder cancer and kidney disorder did not begin during service or are otherwise related to service. The claims for these conditions have been denied.

The Veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected conditions, and the Board finds no evidence to support a presumption of exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection for cause of death is denied.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus, kidney disability, heart disability, and residuals of a stroke. The Veteran's claims were based on direct evidence rather than presumptive exposure to herbicides or other conditions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for lumbar spine disability, adrenal gland disorder, orthopedic disability manifested by multiple joint aches and pains, and chronic disability manifested by multiple muscle aches and pains. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cancer of the left kidney and residuals of a left nephrectomy, as well as lung cancer. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to herbicide exposure or service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection for a chronic low back disability, cyst, left kidney, temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ) to include as secondary to PTSD, tinnitus, or hearing loss.

The Veteran's initial ratings for diabetes mellitus, peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, and chronic kidney disease have been granted. The Veteran is currently receiving a 40 percent rating for diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's additional renal/kidney disability was as likely as not caused or aggravated by mitral insufficiency and congestive heart failure, determined to be caused by VA medical treatment rendered in March 2005.

The Board has remanded the case to adjudicate the service connection for cryoglobinemia with hepatitis C and kidney complications for accrued benefit purposes, and then to readjudicate the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran does not have any of the claimed conditions that are related to his service, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against all claims.

The Board found that the Veteran's kidney disability and hypothyroidism were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claims for service connection.