Bladder cancer decisions — 2005

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory disorder and bladder cancer, both linked to inservice asbestos exposure. The evidence did not establish a direct link between the conditions and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bladder cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of diabetes mellitus, type II; kidney cancer; bladder cancer; or macular degeneration in service or for many years thereafter, and no competent evidence of a nexus between these disorders and his period of active service. Therefore, the claims for service connection for these conditions are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death from metastatic bladder cancer was incurred in service due to asbestos exposure, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and requests for additional information from various sources.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of genitourinary tract cancer, including bladder cancer, was denied. However, his initial increased evaluation for prostate cancer was granted and currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bladder cancer and an increased rating for diabetes mellitus. The decision found that there was no evidence of a nexus between the veteran's current conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board found that the veteran's prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and colon polyps were not present in service or related to service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's bladder cancer is not related to his service in Vietnam, and denied his claim for diabetes mellitus due to exposure to herbicide agents. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information regarding the veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for the residuals of bladder cancer from February 1, 2001 to January 24, 2003 was granted. The initial evaluation following cessation of therapy for bladder cancer was found inadequate for rating purposes. A 30 percent evaluation is assigned for residuals of bladder cancer since May 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and a dose estimate from the Under Secretary for Health. The veteran's bladder cancer is being evaluated to determine if it is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and for bladder cancer, finding no evidence to support a link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bladder cancer was not incurred or aggravated during service and is unrelated to any claimed exposure to chemicals or radiation. As a result, the claim for service connection for bladder cancer is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, finding it to be related to noise exposure during service. The issue of service connection for bladder cancer remains pending as the appeal is not about this condition.

The veteran's bladder cancer is found to be etiologically related to his exposure to multiple chemical agents, including Agent Orange, while on active duty in Vietnam. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for urinary bladder cancer and an increased rating for his left knee disability. The veteran's claim for urinary bladder cancer was reopened based on new evidence, but it was not found to be related to herbicide exposure or any other basis of service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's bladder and prostate cancers were not related to his in-service exposure to radiation, and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to the lack of a direct link between his conditions and his military service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for heart disease and bladder cancer, both claimed as secondary to tobacco use in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for diabetes mellitus and service connection for bladder cancer due to herbicide exposure. The veteran served in Vietnam, but his bladder cancer was not found to be related to herbicide exposure.