The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for kidney failure and to reopen his claim of service connection for scleroderma. The decision found that new evidence did not relate scleroderma to service, nor did it raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim. For kidney failure, the Board noted no evidence showing its onset in service or within one year after discharge, and concluded that it was not related to his service-connected ischemic cardiomyopathy.
The deciding factor: The medical records do not show scleroderma was manifested during service or within a year of separation. The Veteran's spouse provided statements suggesting the onset of scleroderma prior to service but did not provide specific dates, and there is no evidence linking it to service. For kidney failure, the Board found that while membranous glomerulonephritis was diagnosed, there was insufficient evidence showing its onset in service or within one year after discharge.
- Claimed conditions
- scleroderma, kidney failure
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 20, 2017
- Citation
- 1759189
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1759189.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder pain disability and denied the claims for erectile dysfunction, left shoulder condition, diabetes, kidney failure, and stomach upper and lower conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for hypertension and kidney failure due to potential exposure to herbicides during service. The appellant must provide a new TERA memorandum addressing his claimed exposure, specifically considering the January 2024 Gagetown Commission Report.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to readjudicate the previously denied claims of service connection for hypertension and kidney failure. The AOJ is required to consider this new evidence in deciding these claims.
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