Prostate cancer decisions — 2007

The veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at 20 percent since April 1, 2006. The claim for a higher rating prior to that date is denied.

The veteran's prostate cancer is being remanded for further examination and analysis due to the need for a diagnosis of prostate cancer and its etiology.

The veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and rectal bleeding/colitis, were denied as there was no evidence of a nexus to his military service or exposure to ionizing radiation. The veteran's prostate cancer is not presumed due to radiation exposure in service.

The veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and increased rating for tinnitus were denied as he is already receiving the maximum disability rating available for his service-connected conditions.

The veteran did not have a pending claim for VA benefits at the time of his death, and the appellant filed her application for accrued benefits more than one year after the veteran's death. Therefore, she is not legally entitled to this benefit.

The Board found that the cause of the veteran's death, metastasized prostate cancer to the lung, was not caused or contributed substantially or materially by a service-connected disability. The appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining private medical records.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to insufficient reasons and bases provided in the previous decision regarding service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran is seeking service connection for a genitourinary condition, including prostate cancer and its residuals. The case has been remanded to the RO via the AMC for further adjudication on a de novo basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and initial rating for bladder cancer. The decision found that there was no evidence linking the veteran's prostate cancer to exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus denied service connection on any basis.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and cervical spine arthritis, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The VA Under Secretary for Health concluded that there was no reasonable possibility that the veteran's prostate cancer resulted from exposure to ionizing radiation in service. Service connection for chronic lumbar syndrome with degenerative changes was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a respiratory disorder and prostate cancer. The case is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a hearing.

The veteran's cause of death was not service-connected, and he did not have a permanent total service-connected disability at the time of his death. Therefore, the appellant is denied eligibility for Dependents' Educations Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board found that the veteran's disabilities do not render him helpless or housebound, and thus he is not entitled to special monthly pension based on aid and attendance/housebound status.

The veteran's prostate cancer is related to his service-connected prostatitis and the Board finds that it is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the cause of death was metastatic prostate cancer, which is not service-connected. The veteran's service-connected bilateral knee disability did not contribute to his death. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death and DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 were both denied.

The veteran's appeal for restoration of a 100 percent rating and request for a higher rating than 60 percent for prostate cancer was denied. The RO reduced his rating to 60 percent in September 2003, based on the absence of local recurrence or metastasis.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification regarding the veteran's exposure along the DMZ in Korea, and thus service connection for prostate cancer cannot be determined at this time.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and a skin disorder, as well as his request for an increased evaluation for diabetes mellitus. The severance of service connection for diabetes mellitus was also denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and right shoulder injury residuals were denied. The Board found no current evidence of these conditions, and the claim for new and material evidence regarding cervical and low back injuries was also denied.