Prostate cancer decisions — 2001

The VA has granted service connection for postoperative prostate cancer but assigned a noncompensable evaluation. The veteran is seeking an initial compensable evaluation.

The veteran died of prostate cancer with metastasis to the bone and liver. The service-connected conditions (CAD, HTN, CHF) were not shown to be related to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than November 7, 1996, for the grant of service connection for status post total prostatectomy for carcinoma of the prostate with residual impotence due to herbicide exposure. The issues of entitlement to service connection for left breast cancer and right rib metastasis were also addressed.

The veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, including as due to exposure to ionizing radiation in service, was granted after the regulation was amended to include prostate cancer under 38 C.F.R. § 3.311.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or housebound status was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine warrants a 60% disability evaluation, effective from March 17, 1995. The noncompensable disability evaluation for residuals of prostate cancer is denied.

The veteran's prostate cancer disability was initially rated as noncompensable, but later increased to 100 percent and then decreased back to 20 percent. The impotency issue remains unresolved.