Bladder cancer decisions — 2019

The Veteran's bladder cancer is remanded for a medical opinion to determine if it is related to service, including herbicide exposure. The cause of death claim is also remanded as there has not been an opinion on the relationship between the Veteran's service-connected conditions and his death.

The Veteran's bladder cancer was not shown as chronic in service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period. The disability is not otherwise etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease, including Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that additional medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's bladder cancer is related to herbicide agent exposure in service, which could affect his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bladder cancer is denied. The effective date was set at March 14, 2017 due to the amendment of regulations allowing presumptive service connection for certain enumerated diseases, including bladder cancer, related to exposure to contaminants present in the water supply at Camp Lejeune.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to determine if the Veteran's bladder cancer is related to his service, specifically his presumed exposure to Agent Orange. A VA examination is needed to assess this relationship.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his in-service herbicide exposure, as the National Academy of Sciences found limited or suggestive evidence of an association between bladder cancer and herbicide agent exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss and bladder cancer as due to herbicide exposure. The Veteran's acoustic tumor and facial paralysis are remanded for further evaluation.

The Board has remanded the claims for bladder cancer, thyroid disorder, and osteoporosis due to exposure to herbicide agents and/or radiation. The case will be referred to the Under Secretary for Health for a dose estimate based on available methodologies.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss is currently rated as noncompensable, and the Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.,Service connection for heart disability (IHD, arrhythmia, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation) to include as due to herbicide exposure is remanded.

The Veteran's claim to reopen service connection for bladder cancer was denied.,The Veteran's claims to reopen service connection for prostate disability and bilateral peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities were both granted, with the latter being reopened.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's bladder cancer may be related to service exposure, but needs further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's coronary atherosclerosis is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides. The Veteran's bladder cancer is remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for lung cancer, bladder cancer, and diabetes mellitus due to lack of evidence regarding exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

The Board has granted service connection for heart condition, hypertension, bladder cancer, and diabetes mellitus with peripheral neuropathy symptoms. The issues of service connection for these conditions are all resolved in the Veteran's favor.

The Board has granted service connection for bladder cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam is more likely than not related to his current diagnosis of bladder cancer.

The Board has remanded the claims for esophageal cancer, lung cancer, gallbladder cancer, thyroid disability (including thyroid cancer), and diabetes mellitus type II due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and toxic chemicals. Additional development is needed including obtaining medical opinions on etiology.

The Board has determined that there is not enough evidence to support a finding that the Veteran's bladder cancer, or its residuals, began during his military service and is related to exposure to fuel, fumes, or asbestos. As such, the claim for service connection for bladder cancer is denied.

The Board has found that the Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents such as Agent Orange in service. Further development is needed for both diabetes mellitus, type II and bladder cancer claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, bladder cancer, heart disability, and CVA have been denied. The Board found no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's in-service exposure or service.

The Veteran's bladder cancer is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service. The hypertension and psychiatric disorders are remanded for further evaluation.