The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 because there is no evidence to show that he underwent heart surgery at a private facility contracted by VA, or developed a kidney disorder as a result of this surgery.
The deciding factor: There was no evidence showing that the veteran underwent the alleged surgery or developed his claimed kidney disorder, and even if it did occur, it would not be covered under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to the private facility's lack of jurisdiction over VA.
- Claimed conditions
- kidney disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2002
- Citation
- 0217596
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0217596.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for kidney, liver, and pituitary gland disorders to obtain an addendum medical opinion regarding their nature and etiology.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a kidney disorder, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor. The claim for an eye disorder was remanded for further development.
- Dismissed
The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death while it was pending.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for a kidney disorder to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's hypertension, which is related to his kidney disorder, is connected to his military service.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.