Prostate cancer decisions — 2005

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of prostate cancer is granted, with the effective date set at June 10, 1996.

The veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for additional development of his personnel records and for compliance with the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the veteran's service-connected hypertension and atherosclerotic vascular disease contributed to his death from prostate cancer.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the increase in disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer, which was previously reduced to 0 percent and then increased back to 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a valid claim for service connection for prostate cancer pending at the time of his death, and thus denied accrued benefits. The cause of death was determined to be unrelated to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma as they were not shown to be related to his in-service exposure to asbestos.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings for PTSD, prostate cancer, and lumbar spine disability. The RO will further develop these claims before deciding them.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the veteran's residuals of prostate cancer, effective July 8, 2002.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss, recurrent kidney stones, and degenerative joint disease of the knees as these conditions were not shown to be related to service or any inservice disease or injury.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides and insufficient medical evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to service connection for depression has been withdrawn. The case is being remanded for issuance of a statement of the case on the issue of an effective date earlier than February 13, 2002 for the assignment of a 100 percent disability rating for prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer did not have their onset during active service or within one year following discharge, nor are they related to any in-service disease or injury. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by the veteran's active duty service, nor may it be presumed to be incurred in or aggravated by such service. The Board also noted that there is no evidence of a relationship between the veteran's service-connected prostatitis and his current prostate cancer.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his VA treatment records and a VA examination. The claim will be reconsidered based on new evidence.

The veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, which is claimed as secondary to exposure to ionizing radiation in service, has been remanded due to the need for updated dose information from DTRA.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure and denied service connection for prostate cancer and Type II diabetes mellitus, as the conditions were not shown to be related to service or service-connected conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the claimed conditions, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service and no link to herbicide exposure.

The veteran's 100% rating for postoperative carcinoma of the prostate has been reduced to 40%. The case is being remanded for further evaluation and clarification.

The veteran is seeking service connection for prostate cancer and a skin disorder, both potentially related to herbicide exposure during active duty. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional evidence and clarification of records.

The Board found no basis to establish service connection for prostate cancer due to in-service radiation exposure, and denied the claim. The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was not addressed as a separate issue.