Prostate cancer decisions — 2009

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer as it was not caused by the veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation in service and is not otherwise related to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and ulcers, as there was no evidence that these conditions were caused by or began during his military service.

The Board remands the case for further development, including an extraschedular evaluation and a genitourinary examination.

The claim for service connection for cause of death was reopened, but ultimately denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than October 8, 2004, for the grant of service connection for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Board remands the case for further development, including a VA examination to determine if there has been local reoccurrence of prostate cancer and to evaluate the veteran based on his voiding and urinary dysfunction.

The Board found that the reduction from a 100 percent disability rating to a 20 percent rating for prostate cancer was appropriate based on the veteran's symptoms and lack of evidence showing more severe impairment.

The veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides, while the other conditions are not.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling new VA examinations.

The veteran's alcoholism was not incurred in or aggravated by service and it is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability. The rating for prostate cancer remains at 40 percent as there is no evidence of the use of an appliance or absorbent materials that must be changed more than 4 times per day.

The appeal for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as due to herbicide exposure, was dismissed because the veteran did not file a timely substantive appeal after being issued an SOC.

The appeal is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion that reviews the veteran's terminal medical records.

The veteran is entitled to a rating of 60 percent for residuals of prostate cancer as of October 1, 2005.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development and adjudication of the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and verifying any in-service stressors.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development and readjudication of the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides, while his right ear hearing loss and hypertension are not. Tinnitus has been reopened and granted on the merits.

The veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy, was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the claims for service connection for residuals of low back, left shoulder and neck injuries, as well as the claim for prostate cancer, due to an inadequate medical opinion from a previous VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and prostate cancer, as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or ionizing radiation, and the medical evidence did not establish a link between the claimed conditions and his military service.