Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disorder, but denied service connection for renal cancer. The claim of service connection for the low back disorder is based on direct evidence showing it was incurred in service. The claim of service connection for renal cancer remains denied as new and material evidence has not been submitted.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred at Mount Carmel facilities due to the veteran's non-service-connected kidney stone condition, finding that a prudent layperson would not reasonably expect delay in seeking immediate care would be hazardous to life or health.

The veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and renal insufficiency, both secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of medical records.

The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and lung disorder, due to exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran's PTSD claim was also denied.

The Board has ordered a remand for the veteran's claims due to outstanding VA treatment records and SSA disability benefit determinations. The issues include service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, heart disorder (secondary to hypertension), and kidney disorder (secondary to hypertension).

The Board found that the veteran's medical expenses incurred from July 21, 2005, through July 22, 2005, were eligible for reimbursement due to an emergency condition. However, expenses incurred on July 23, 2005, and July 24, 2005, are not eligible as the veteran's condition was stable and a VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current disability manifested by adrenal carcinoma or a neurological disorder of the feet due to military service. The veteran's benign adrenal adenoma is not shown to be related to his military service, and there is no evidence of a current neurological disorder of the feet.

The Board has determined that additional actions are necessary to ensure compliance with VA's duty to notify and assist the veteran, including obtaining relevant records from the service department and VA medical facilities. The case is being remanded for further development.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney condition other than postoperative prostatitis or pyelonephritis and for dental disability, finding no current evidence of such conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral renal cell carcinoma due to exposure to Agent Orange, and also found that the veteran's essential hypertension is likely related to his diabetes mellitus Type II.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus, effective from August 23, 2007. The veteran's claim is denied prior to that date.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, was not caused by any incident of service, including exposure to contaminants at Fort Sheridan Army Base. Service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board found that the cause of death was not related to service-connected conditions or due to radiation exposure in service, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has granted service connection for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, finding that the veteran's condition is related to his active military service and supported by evidence of herbicide exposure in Korea during the Vietnam era.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records.

The veteran's claims for service connection and SMC were denied due to the lack of evidence showing a direct link between his conditions and his military service. The claim for PTSD was granted, but not at an increased rate.

The veteran is seeking compensation for additional disabilities of kidney stones, multiple urinary tract infections, prostate hypertrophy, atrial fibrillation with sick sinus syndrome with pacemaker status post-atrioventricular nodal ablation, and dementia, claimed to be as a result of medical treatment he received at the West Palm Beach VAMC. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance or being housebound due to her conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected hypertension and his death, as well as additional development of evidence related to the cause of death.