Kidney disease Board decisions

The VA determined that the veteran's renal damage was not caused by carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill in providing medical treatment. The pre-existing condition of hypertension and diabetes were found to be more likely causes of his renal failure.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and secondary service connection for hypertension and kidney disease. The issue of service connection for kidney disease is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The veteran died due to cardiopulmonary arrest caused by pancreatic carcinoma, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and chronic renal insufficiency. The RO must remand the case for proper VCAA notice and further development.

The Board denied service connection for tongue tremors, GERD and stomach pains, right renal cyst, and nausea and bladder spasms as not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's son, E.J.G., is permanently incapable of self-support due to congenital renal hypoplasia resulting in end-stage renal disease before he turned 18 years old. The claim for recognition as a helpless child for VA purposes is granted.

The Board has determined 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 the veteran's death.

The veteran withdrew his appeal on the claims of service connection for coronary artery disease, a low back disability, an adrenal gland disability, and a kidney disability.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a lumbar spine condition and degenerative joint disease, finding that there is no competent medical evidence establishing current disability or a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records, need for clarification of a medical opinion, and need for further examination.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a kidney disability with hypertension related to his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The hearing loss is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's injury in October 1973 was due to his own willful misconduct, and thus denied reopening of the claim.

The veteran's claims for disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records of VA treatment and providing a medical opinion.

The VA determined that the veteran's residuals of a prescription drug reaction were not due to VA medical fault or unforeseeable events, and thus denied his claim.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, glomerulonephritis and renal failure, was not related to his service-connected hepatic dysfunction. The medical evidence did not support a connection between the veteran's service and these conditions.

The Board has determined that the reduction in evaluation from 30 percent to zero percent disabling for kidney stones was improper. The veteran's GERD, headaches, Raynaud's syndrome, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and dermatophytosis of the hands and subungual tinea of the right ring finger were not granted higher initial evaluations.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of death due to metastatic renal cell cancer, which was not shown to be incurred in or aggravated by service. The veteran's diabetes mellitus, type II, was also not found to have contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension was denied as there is no evidence of permanent and total disability prior to April 9, 2004.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly assess the severity of the veteran's service-connected diabetes and to determine the nature and etiology of several other claimed disabilities. The case will be returned to the RO for further action.

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

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted sufficient to reopen the veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for a kidney disability. The Board then remanded this issue, but ultimately denied service connection for a kidney disability.