Prostate cancer decisions — 2010

The Veteran's claim for service connection for optic neuropathy with loss of vision of the left eye has been granted. The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to herbicide exposure, is remanded due to a request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Board denied all claims for effective dates prior to May 3, 2007 as the Veteran did not file a claim for these benefits before that date.

The Veteran's death was not prior to the negotiation of a check from VA, and no money owed by VA to the Veteran at the time of his death has been unpaid. Therefore, accrued benefits are not owed to the appellant.

The Veteran's elevated prostate specific antigen levels are not considered a disability and are denied service connection. The Board finds no evidence linking the hypertension to service or Agent Orange exposure, but acknowledges that it is treated following service. Hearing loss claim remains pending.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an earlier effective date for anxiety disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development. His claim for a higher evaluation for anxiety disorder is also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic small cell undifferentiated cancer, which is presumed to be caused by exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not service-connected as it did not originate during his military service and there is no evidence linking the condition to herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction did not arise in service or due to a service-connected disability. The evidence does not support a finding of exposure to herbicides during service, nor is there any credible link between his conditions and service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further proceedings. The RO must request information from the JSRRC regarding any alleged herbicide exposure and obtain any additional evidence pertinent to the claim.

The Veteran is seeking a temporary total disability evaluation for prostate cancer and prostatectomy residuals under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. � 4.30 based upon convalescence following his June 1, 2006, radical prostatectomy. The VA needs to obtain all relevant private treatment records from South Seminole Hospital.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding prostate cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus did not have their onset during service or within a presumptive period, and thus denied service connection for both conditions.

The Board found no evidence of prostate cancer or a prostate disorder in service, and there is no competent evidence linking the Veteran's current prostate cancer to his period of active service, including any alleged exposure to herbicides. As such, the claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated in service, nor may it be presumed due to exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his exposure to ionizing radiation during service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 8, 2004, for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer. The earliest allowable effective date is based on the date of receipt of his original claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer, bilateral hearing loss disability, tinnitus, and erectile dysfunction associated with prostate cancer, are sufficient to render him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for hearing loss or tinnitus, and that there was no direct service connection for any of the claimed conditions.

The Board has determined that a VA medical opinion is needed to determine if the Veteran's death was related to service, including his presumed in-service herbicide exposure.