Bladder cancer decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bladder cancer was denied as there is no competent evidence linking the condition to his in-service exposure or conditions. The Veteran also does not have a single service-connected disability meeting the criteria for TDIU.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, bladder cancer, and skin cancer are granted due to presumed exposure to radiation during military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death in January 2010 was not related to a service-connected disability or service, and therefore denied service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not attributable to service. The Board denied the claim for service connection as there is no positive association between exposure to herbicides and bladder cancer.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II, hypertension, status post-bladder removal with residuals of bladder cancer, and status post-prostatectomy with erectile dysfunction due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran seeks service connection for genitourinary cancer, including as due to herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for further development and medical opinion regarding the etiology of his cancers.

The Veteran's service-connected coronary artery disease is considered a contributory cause of his death, and the Board grants DIC benefits based on this finding.

The Board denied service connection for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) and Bladder Cancer, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship to service or any incident therein.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death, specifically whether his admix mesothelioma cells were related to his service exposure. The appellant and her representative will be notified of this decision.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is related to exposure to Agent Orange during service, and the Board grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for damaged urethra, urethral cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer. The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between these conditions and service.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his active military service while stationed at Fort Drum, and therefore grants service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II, cancer of the neck, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer as due to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's urinary bladder cancer is found to be related to his military service, specifically exposure to diesel fuels, mosquito sprays and herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's gallbladder cancer and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma are related to his service, specifically presumed exposure to herbicide agents (Agent Orange) in Thailand.

The Board has granted service connection for Crohn's disease and found that the Veteran's gastrointestinal symptoms are at least as likely as not related to his active military service. The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for kidney stones is denied due to lack of current symptoms.

The Board finds that there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's bladder cancer to his active service, including Agent Orange exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was not initially manifested during service, and there is no evidence linking it to his active military service. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's bladder cancer is related to his service.

The Board has determined that further development is needed before the claims can be adjudicated, including obtaining additional medical records and verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors. The Veteran will also need to provide details about his exposure to ionizing radiation and asbestos in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding potential exposure to toxins on Guam and the cause of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for thyroid cancer and bladder cancer are being remanded due to the need for a dose assessment from the Under Secretary for Health, an opinion by an oncologist regarding the etiology of his thyroid cancer, and further development related to exposure to ionizing radiation.