Kidney disease Board decisions

The veteran's multiple disabilities, including muscle spasms and joint pain, skin disorder, kidney disorder, tonsillitis, chronic back pain and stiffness, cardiac disorder, hypertension, heart bypass surgery residuals, glaucoma, corneal opacities, cholecystitis, are not due to mustard gas exposure or any other service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's kidney disability with hypertension improved, warranting a reduction from a 100% rating to a 30% rating. The veteran is also seeking an evaluation in excess of 30%, but the evidence does not support such a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's renal cyst of the right kidney does not warrant an initial compensable rating under any applicable criteria, as there is no evidence of significant impairment or disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney disorder secondary to her service-connected ulcerative colitis and an increased rating for her service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for left hip and kidney disabilities as not well-grounded. The claim of increased rating for degenerative joint disease, lumbar spine is granted with a 40% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the service-connected conditions did not contribute to the veteran's death or significantly aggravate his non-service connected conditions, leading to a denial of the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a kidney disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen his previously denied claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for residuals of a left ankle, fibula, and tibia fracture; hypertension; irritable bowel syndrome with gastroesophageal reflux disease; kidney stones; and multiple angiolipomas.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is denied as there was no evidence of incapacitation preventing him from filing his claim.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cystic acne, loss of the left kidney, and sterility due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam as not well grounded.

The Board found that the appellant's claim for service connection for back disability is not well grounded due to lack of a chronic disability in service and inconsistent post-service medical history.,The Board also denied claims for service connection for right ankle disability, headaches, epitaxis (nose bleeds), and kidney stones.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's heart disorder, pulmonary disorder, and stroke (cerebrovascular accident) as aggravated by his service-connected psychoneurosis, anxiety and conversion. Service connection is denied for diabetes mellitus, kidney disorder, prostate disorder, and orchialgia.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The cause of death was listed as cardiac arrhythmias due to hypertension and diabetes, with chronic renal failure as a contributory cause.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a head injury, kidney condition, right epicondylitis (claimed as a right forearm condition), and low back disorder. The only conditions granted were right hip arthritis.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of renal disease with proteinuria and hypertension, finding that her original claim was abandoned due to her failure to respond to notification of a VA examination scheduled in 1987. The effective date remains January 27, 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected PTSD could have contributed to his cause of death, and thus the claim for service connection for the cause of death is well-grounded.

The Board denied both claims: service connection for multiple cancerous tumors secondary to exposure to Agent Orange herbicide and the cause of death. The claim was not well grounded as there is no evidence linking the veteran's renal carcinoma to his active military service or to his exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection due to a lack of timely submission of a substantive appeal.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a kidney/bladder disorder and bilateral lower extremity edema, but granted service connection for hypothyroidism and gastroesophageal reflux disorder with appropriate ratings.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical records and determine if the conditions he is claiming are related to his military service.