Prostate cancer decisions — 2000

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of prostatectomy for prostrate cancer, finding that a 10 percent rating was appropriate. The issue of entitlement to compensable rating for impotency is remanded.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection due to lack of competent evidence supporting his claims. The claims were not well-grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals, status post prostate cancer, warrant a 20 percent disability rating and denied an increased rating. The reduction from 100 to 20 percent disabling effective April 1, 1998 was not proper.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for a tumor at the base of the tongue and prostate cancer are not well grounded, as there is no evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking his current cancer to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation.

The veteran's appeal for service connection for hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, prostrate cancer, and hypercholesterolemia is dismissed as he did not file a timely Substantive Appeal.

The veteran's death was caused by metastatic prostate cancer, which is service-connected. The appellant also meets the eligibility requirements for dependents' educational assistance benefits.

The veteran's cause of death was hypercalcemia due to metastatic squamous cell carcinoma, with contributing conditions being prostate cancer and coronary artery disease. The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not contribute to his demise.

The Board found that the veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that his symptoms did not warrant a rating greater than 40 percent for his lumbosacral spine disability or that new evidence had been submitted to reopen his claim of service connection for a nervous condition.

The Board denied the claims for service connection for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, prostate cancer, and skin cancer as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation during atmospheric nuclear weapon testing in service. The claim was not well-grounded due to a lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and increased disability ratings for PTSD. The prostate cancer claim was not well-grounded, as there is no medical evidence linking it to service exposure to ionizing radiation. For PTSD, the rating of 30 percent has been maintained since December 23, 1998.

The Board found that the veteran's back disability was not caused by the VA-administered spinal anesthetic in December 1993, but rather related to his pre-existing prostate cancer and metastases. The treatment did not result in additional disability.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of postoperative peroneal prostatectomy due to prostate cancer, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for prostate cancer and lung cancer due to occupational exposure to ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in service, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation during service, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence linking his condition to his military service.

The veteran's cause of death was granted service connection based on a presumption due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The effective date cannot be earlier than November 7, 1996 when prostate cancer was recognized as associated with such exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange. The claim was granted.

The veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for impotence is denied as there is no evidence of penis deformity warranting a 20% rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for epididymitis, prostate cancer, and acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy are not well grounded.