Prostate cancer decisions — 2007

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

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the earliest date of entitlement was February 21, 2005, when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The Board has granted a 40 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy, effective July 12, 2004. The veteran previously received a noncompensable rating prior to this date.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and review of his medical records.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection of residuals of prostate cancer and a compensable evaluation for erectile dysfunction, finding that the earliest allowable effective date is January 14, 2005.

The veteran's disability compensation was terminated due to his status as a fugitive felon, but the Board found he did not meet the definition of a fugitive felon and thus the termination was improper.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostate cancer, which occurred after his service in Vietnam and was treated with a radical prostatectomy, is presumed to have been incurred during service due to exposure to herbicides. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's prostate cancer is not related to service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 40 percent disability rating for the veteran's urinary residuals of prostate cancer, status post prostatectomy, based on frequent urination requiring absorbent materials more than four times per day.

The Board has granted a 40 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, post-prostatectomy, based on urinary frequency issues.

The veteran has withdrawn his appeal, effectively ending the case.

The veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer and skin cancer, both claimed as due to in-service exposure to ionizing radiation, are being remanded for further development. The case will be referred back to the Under Secretary for Benefits for an opinion based on a reconstructed dose estimate from DTRA.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to additional evidence being associated with the claims file.

The veteran's claim for service connection for skin cancer and prostate cancer due to exposure to ionizing radiation is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service medical records and radiation dose data.

The veteran's claim for special monthly pension by reason of regular aid and attendance or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

The veteran's appeal is about the propriety of reducing his disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 10 percent. The Board has determined that additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing proper notification, is needed before a decision can be made.

The Board found that the veteran's residuals of prostate cancer were not caused by his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer with status post radical retropubic prostatectomy was denied. The current effective date is not specified, and the veteran's condition has been rated at 10 percent since December 2001 and increased to 20 percent in October 2005.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for further development due to inconsistencies in his reported service in Vietnam and the need to verify his presence there. The veteran is seeking service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis as a result of exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance by another person is denied as he does not meet the criteria due to his service-connected disabilities.