The Veteran has been shown to have an additional disability of ureteral obstruction resulting in hydronephrosis and chronic renal insufficiency as a result of VA surgery performed at the Madison VAMC on March 1, 2010. The additional disability was not the result of willful misconduct and was proximately caused by carelessness or error in judgment during the surgical procedure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's ureteral obstruction resulting in hydronephrosis and chronic renal insufficiency is a known but rare complication of the abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and aortobifemoral bypass surgery, which was not disclosed as a potential adverse outcome in informed consent discussions.
- Claimed conditions
- ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, chronic renal insufficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 9, 2015
- Citation
- 1524528
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 1524528.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities result in regular need for aid and attendance, which qualifies him for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's kidney condition, including hydronephrosis and/or renal cyst, is remanded for further review due to a failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of his condition. The examiner must consider all potential exposures, including contaminated water at Camp Lejeune and fuels as a result of his MOS as a bulk fuel man.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's hydronephrosis is granted with a 10 percent evaluation effective August 23, 2011. The Board remanded the case for further development and consideration of increased evaluations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to the combined effects of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, but denied an increased rating for hydronephrosis.
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