Prostate cancer decisions — 2010

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hearing loss, prostate cancer, and a respiratory system disorder. The evidence received since the previous denials did not relate to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer as a result of exposure to herbicides, but denied service connection for skin cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, nor may it be presumed to have been incurred therein. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer and PTSD, render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board found insufficient evidence to grant service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure, as the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and there is no credible evidence of exposure or a link between his current condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as the result of herbicide exposure, is being remanded due to insufficient verification of his alleged exposure in Korea.

The Veteran's service-connected erectile dysfunction is currently manifested by no present penis deformity, and his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer are not rated higher than the current levels. The Board finds that entitlement to a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction must be denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, postoperative retropubic prostatectomy, was reduced from a 60% evaluation to a 40% evaluation effective March 1, 2010.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 40%, effective February 1, 2006. His erectile dysfunction remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, removal of cancer on the penis, urostomy (claimed as colostomy and stomach condition), and bronchitis. The Veteran's claims were not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer are service-connected for accrued benefits purposes, and his death was due to a service-connected cause. The appellant is therefore eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to exposure to herbicide agents, and he had qualifying service in Vietnam during the Vietnam Era.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date earlier than January 22, 2009 for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer associated with herbicide exposure. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for service connection when the presumption based on Agent Orange exposure went into effect in 1996.

The Board found that the Veteran's schwannoma of the left posterior chest wall, degenerative lung disease, and prostate cancer were not caused by VA treatment or negligence. The claim was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a back condition, finding that the Veteran's current lumbar spine osteoarthritis and sensory neuropathy of the hypoglossal branch of the left side of his tongue are related to his active duty service.,Service connection was also granted for a dental condition with nerve damage to the tongue. The Board found that this condition is at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's in-service dental surgery.

The Veteran's claim for a powered mobility device, such as a powered wheelchair or scooter, is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and an examination.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is presumed due to his service in Vietnam. Service connection for a right knee disorder and an irregular heartbeat are denied, but the Veteran has been granted service connection for prostate cancer with a noncompensable evaluation, erectile dysfunction with a noncompensable evaluation, and hemorrhoids with a noncompensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by prostate cancer, which is a 'radiogenic' disease. The claim will be remanded to obtain a dose estimate from the VA Under Secretary for Health and then seek a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's in-service exposure to ionizing radiation likely contributed to his prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy and prostate cancer are granted as service-connected due to exposure to Agent Orange during his Vietnam-era service.