Prostate cancer decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran does not have a current diagnosis of prostate cancer or chronic disability of the left leg, manifested by odor. The claims are denied as there is no evidence of these conditions during service or within one year thereafter.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer, type II diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and breathing problems, all to include as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The evidence did not support a direct link between these conditions and his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding service connection for prostate cancer and the veteran's claimed exposure to herbicide agents in Thailand. The appellant is asked to provide a detailed statement of his claimed herbicide exposure, and VA will verify this information with appropriate sources.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his left index finger amputation, service connection for hypertension and prostate cancer (due to Gulf War exposure), and whether new and material evidence had been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for breathing problems. The Board found that there was no evidence of in-service incurrence or aggravation of these conditions.

The veteran's claim for a 40 percent rating for residuals of prostate cancer, status/post prostatectomy was granted with an effective date of January 14, 2003.

The veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated as 20 percent disabling from June 13, 2006 to June 22, 2006. The veteran's erectile dysfunction is rated noncompensably disabling.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities result in the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, which has been granted.

The Board has granted a TDIU from June 15, 2006 to August 16, 2008 due to the veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and other disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for prostate cancer, colon cancer, and diabetes due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service. The hypertension claim was reopened but not granted as secondary to rheumatic heart disease.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 100 percent to a 60 percent rating for prostate cancer, status-post prostatectomy was proper and denied the veteran's request to restore the 100 percent rating.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's disability has been rated at 20% since November 16, 2004 and increased to 60% effective April 14, 2008. The current rating of 60% is the maximum allowed for voiding dysfunction.

The Board has determined that additional service records are needed to properly adjudicate the veteran's claim for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure. The case is being remanded for further development.

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

The veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his exposure to Agent Orange during his time in Korea.

The Board finds that the veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied both his claims for service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation of prostate cancer with prostatitis was remanded. The issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to October 18, 1996 for the grant of service connection for post traumatic stress disorder is dismissed due to a final rating decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of prostate cancer warrant a 10 percent disability rating since October 12, 2000.

The Board found that COPD and prostate cancer are not related to service exposure to ionizing radiation. The veteran's respiratory issues were noted in the 1980s, but there is no evidence of such conditions during his military service.