Chronic renal disease

Chronic renal disease

Definition

Chronic renal disease means renal injury of a sustained nature that is not reversible and leads to destruction of nephron mass and is associated with a demonstrable functional abnormality of the kidney which raises the level of creatinine. It can result from any cause of renal dysfunction of sufficient magnitude.

Signs and symptoms

Patients with mildly impaired renal function are asymptomatic. Mild to moderate renal insufficiency produces vague symptoms such as nocturia, lassitude, fatigue and decreased mental acuity. Neuromuscular features include muscular twitches, muscle cramps and convulsions. Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, stomatitis and an unpleasant taste in the mouth are nearly always present as the disease progresses. Hypertension is a feature of the advanced disease.

Establishing onset

This condition should have been specifically diagnosed if renal function tests were undertaken. However, such tests may not have been undertaken or doctors' notes and/or hospital records may have been destroyed or can no longer be obtained. Therefore, if the veteran or member gives a history of chronic renal disease at a particular time and relevant medical notes cannot be obtained, you should seek medical advice to decide whether the claimed symptoms and treatment at that time can be attributed to chronic renal disease or to some other condition.

LAST REVIEWED FOR CCPS 20 DECEMBER 2002.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS [32456]

32457 there is some evidence that chronic renal disease may be a factor in the development or worsening of the condition under consideration.

32471 the veteran has chronic renal disease.

32458  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and VEA service for atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

32459 the veteran had chronic renal disease before the clinical onset of the condition under consideration.

32460   the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and VEA service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

32463  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and operational service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

or

32464  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and eligible service for the clinical onset of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

or

7334     the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred after the end of the veteran's last period of VEA service.

7335     the condition under consideration permanently worsened.

32461 the veteran had chronic renal disease before the clinical worsening of the condition under consideration.

32462   the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and VEA service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

32465  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and operational service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

or

32466  the veteran has established the causal connection between the chronic renal disease and eligible service for the clinical worsening of atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.

CLINICAL ONSET AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [32463]

32467  the chronic renal disease is causally related to operational service.

CLINICAL ONSET AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [32464]

32468  the chronic renal disease is causally related to eligible service.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND OPERATIONAL SERVICE [32465]

32467  the chronic renal disease is causally related to operational service.

32469 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of operational service to which the chronic renal disease is causally related.

CLINICAL WORSENING AND ELIGIBLE SERVICE [32466]

32468  the chronic renal disease is causally related to eligible service.

32470 the clinical onset of the condition under consideration occurred prior to that part of eligible service to which the chronic renal disease is causally related.