Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to new and material evidence having been submitted. The issues are whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his claims of hypertension with postoperative residuals of coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction, as well as kidney disease including nephropathy, both claimed as secondary to service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, and entitlement to a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service-connected disability.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for stage III chronic kidney disease, which he claims was caused by high dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prescribed by VA. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to determine if the Veteran's kidney disease is an additional disability proximately caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on VA's part.

The Board has determined that there is no current diagnosis of a respiratory disorder and insufficient evidence to support service connection for either the respiratory or kidney disorders. The Veteran's assertions regarding his symptoms are outweighed by the lack of corroborating medical evidence upon discharge from service.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and he did not have a permanent and total disability resulting from a service-connected disability at the time of his death. Therefore, the appellant does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under Chapter 35.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected varicose veins and arthritis contributed to his death due to coronary artery disease, cor pulmonale, and diabetes mellitus. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of frostbite or renal cancer, and therefore cannot establish service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death because there was no evidence showing a relationship between his service, service-connected disability (PUD), and his cause of death.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including abdominal aneurysm, hypertension, renal dysfunction, prostate disability, and respiratory disability. The Board has determined that additional development is needed to address these claims.

The Veteran's renal cell cancer and pituitary tumor were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service, nor may they be presumed to have been so incurred. The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 30 percent since September 27, 2004.

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

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including those allegedly related to ionizing radiation exposure, are not supported by the evidence of record and have been denied.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an adrenal gland disability, but the Veteran's claims for service connection have been denied as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability or causation due to exposure to chemical agents during service.

The Veteran's anxiety disorder is rated at 50 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. The other conditions are not service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development of the Veteran's medical records.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for emergency treatment at the Renal Hypertension Center on June 24, 2007 are approved as they met the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

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

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as there was no credible evidence to support his PTSD diagnosis and the other conditions did not appear related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete records and potential Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided that a VA examination and medical opinion are needed to determine the relationship between the Veteran's end-stage renal disease and his service-connected hypertension.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for hydronephrosis of the left kidney, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.