Bladder cancer decisions — 2011

The Veteran died from renal failure due to or as a consequence of bladder cancer. The Board is seeking clarification on the nature and role of his prostate cancer in causing death, including whether it metastasized from the bladder.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's bladder cancer is more likely than not caused by exposure to chemicals during his active duty service.

The Veteran's bladder and heart conditions were not caused by VA's prescription of Plavix following his August 2008 angioplasty, as the conditions existed prior to this event.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding whether Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied service connection for bladder cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange and his bladder cancer.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to bladder cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking the Veteran's death to his military service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents. The Board also found that a VA medical opinion was not required in this case.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bladder cancer, which caused his death in October 2002, is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to Agent Orange during service.

The Board found that there was no demonstration by competent medical or credible lay evidence that the appellant's bladder cancer is related to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. Therefore, service connection for bladder cancer was denied.

The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of prostate cancer, and the Board finds that service connection for this condition cannot be granted as there is no evidence of its existence during his period of active duty.

The Veteran's appeal for CUE in the April 2010 Board decision denying service connection for bladder cancer and metastatic lung cancer has been withdrawn by his representative.