Kidney disease Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine and polymorphous light eruption (PMLE) of the skin. The hip disability and left kidney condition are denied as not incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board found that atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and renal cell carcinoma were not incurred in service or related to service, asbestos exposure, or PCB exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hydronephrosis of the left kidney, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a plantar wart of the right foot with renal failure, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between the condition in service and the current disability.

The Board found that none of the causes of the veteran's death were incurred in or aggravated by his military service, nor may they be presumed to have been incurred in such service. The cause of death was not proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal cell carcinoma is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran had service-connected disabilities but was not rated at 100% for a continuous period of eight years prior to his death. The appellant's claim is based on hypothetical entitlement, which is precluded by the revised regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting evidence regarding whether the veteran's renal cancer is related to service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The issue of tinnitus remains unresolved and will be addressed in a future decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney stones are related to a fall during basic training and have granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran received unauthorized medical care for back strain and kidney stones. The Board found that the treatment was not in an emergency situation, thus VA does not have to pay for it.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left renal tuberculosis and granted it, finding that new medical opinions support a link between his condition and his military service.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings for his service-connected right and left kidney disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records from February 2008 onwards.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal failure was aggravated by his service-connected chronic hepatitis, and thus grants service connection for renal failure as secondary to service-connected chronic hepatitis.

The Board has determined that the veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Francis Hospital from May 5 to May 10, 2005 are eligible for payment or reimbursement due to a medical emergency and the unavailability of VA facilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional records from SSA, which may affect the outcome of his claim for a compensable disability rating for renal colic.

The Board found that the evidence submitted did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for cause of the veteran's death, and thus denied the request to reopen.

The Board is remanding the case for a VA examiner to review the veteran's file and determine if his renal cell carcinoma was related to his period of service, specifically addressing December 1973 and January 1974 VA medical records showing kidney problems and a left kidney mass, and December 1995 private medical records showing a left kidney mass and malignant tumor in the rectum.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that none of the veteran's fatal conditions had onset during service or were aggravated by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's service connection claims for bladder cancer, bilateral carotid artery blockage, angioplasty, kidney problems, and blocked veins from the neck down are being remanded due to incomplete records and potential exposure to ionizing radiation during service.