Prostate cancer decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected disability, and thus denied his claims for cause of death benefits.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate and bladder cancer were denied as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions are related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is found to be productive of an overall level of incapacity sufficient to prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment, but the VA examiner's opinion was not sufficiently tailored to his specific circumstances. The case is remanded for additional development including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for prostate cancer and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, both of which are considered 'radiogenic diseases.' The Board has determined that the claims should be remanded to allow for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's prostate cancer in remission, status post prostatectomy, is rated at 40 percent disabling due to urinary frequency of 20 times per day. The residuals of a right foot injury are also service-connected.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred due to herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The issue of erectile dysfunction secondary to hypertension remains under review.

The Veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and effective dates have been denied. The Board found no evidence to support the claimed conditions or their relationship to military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, was not granted service connection. The case has been remanded for further development and consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO due to the Veteran's failure to appear for an earlier scheduled hearing. The issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for basal cell carcinoma of the chest, to include as secondary to ionizing radiation, and entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer, to include as secondary to ionizing radiation, are pending.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for renal failure, heart disease, prostate cancer, removal of the gallbladder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, skin cancer, and residuals of head trauma. The evidence does not establish herbicide exposure during active duty service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals, including urinary leakage and voiding frequency issues, do not warrant an increased evaluation above the current 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer is denied as the disability is currently rated at the maximum allowable under VA's schedular criteria.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's disability rating for prostate cancer from 100 percent to 60 percent was proper, effective October 1, 2005.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, finding no competent and probative evidence establishing herbicide exposure or a link to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, if any, may be related to his service and exposure to biological and chemical agents associated with Project SHAD. However, a VA examination is needed to determine the exact nature of the condition and its relation to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim was denied due to lack of current diagnosis. The claims for service connection for lumbar spine and cervical spine disabilities with right C5-C6 radiculopathy were granted as new and material evidence had been received.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of private medical expenses related to his service-connected prostate cancer has been granted. The VA Medical Center (MC) in Canandaigua, New York has approved the reimbursement claims.

The Board has determined that the case must be referred to VA's Under Secretary for Benefits due to a potential radiation exposure claim. The appellant is seeking service connection for prostate cancer with metastasis to the bone, which she contends was caused by ionizing radiation exposure during military service.

The Board has granted the appellant's application to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence was received. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides during his service in Vietnam, leading to presumptive service connection for prostate cancer. As this was found to be the principal cause of death, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.