Prostate cancer decisions — 2006

The Board has ordered additional development due to errors in a previous medical opinion and the need for further clarification on whether service-connected conditions contributed to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's PTSD is service-connected based on a verified in-service stressor. However, there is no evidence linking his prostate cancer to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, finding that there was no evidence showing any in-service symptoms or medical abnormalities and no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service. The appeal is therefore denied.

The veteran's cause of death, respiratory failure due to metastatic prostate cancer, was not related to service or his service-connected disabilities. The veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and readjudication, including examination of the veteran to determine the nature and etiology of any genitourinary disorders and whether prostate cancer is related to service.

The veteran's prostate cancer, rated as 100% disabling, does not meet the criteria for needing regular aid and attendance or being housebound.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for further development, including obtaining additional medical records from various providers and requesting SSA disability determination records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by metastatic bladder cancer due to or as a consequence of prostate cancer, which is service-connected. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is granted.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the veteran's TDIU is August 12, 2002.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 15, 2000 for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer was denied as he did not meet the requirements for a presumption-based award and his claim was filed after the regulatory addition of prostate cancer as a presumptive disease.

The veteran's claims for service connection and initial evaluations for his conditions are being remanded to obtain additional medical records, conduct further examinations, and consider the evidence.

The Board finds that the veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his service-connected prostatitis, and thus does not meet the criteria for service connection. The temporary total rating based on June 1997 treatment requiring convalescence is also denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, attributing it to a lack of evidence linking the condition to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a groin injury, including prostate cancer, is denied as there is no current disability due to the service injury and the prostate cancer is not related to service.

The veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his naval service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verification of reserve service and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic prostate cancer residuals warrant a 40 percent evaluation effective December 1, 2002. The earlier effective date claim is denied.

The veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer and an earlier effective date for a grant of service connection is being remanded due to procedural defects.

The veteran was granted a 100 percent evaluation for the residuals of prostate cancer from February 29, 2000 to July 13, 2000.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for prostate cancer is remanded due to insufficient evidence of post-treatment residuals and the need for further examination. Service connection was granted, but no rating assigned.