Prostate cancer decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are more consistent with a 60 percent disability evaluation, warranting a higher rating than what was previously assigned.

The Veteran's SMC was reduced from the housebound rate to the 'K' rate for loss of use of a creative organ. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary due to the reduction in his disability rating and need for an examination to determine if he needs regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for prostate cancer, claimed as due to herbicide exposure in service, is being remanded for further development. The RO/AMC will attempt to verify if the Veteran set foot in Vietnam during his service and obtain any additional personnel records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals and erectile dysfunction are being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cervical spine disc disease and prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure, as well as his claim for an increased rating for lumbar pain, are being remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The claim for erectile dysfunction is pending and will be addressed in a separate rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, which he claims is related to herbicide exposure, has been remanded due to the need for additional development of his treatment records and VA logs.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability rated 100% disabling for at least eight years prior to his death, thus denying enhanced DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2).

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, which was based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange during his military service in Vietnam, has been granted. However, the effective date of this grant is July 25, 2005, as it is not earlier than that date.

The Board found that the severance decisions for service connection were improper due to lack of evidence showing actual exposure to herbicides in Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status-post prostatectomy is rated at 40 percent since August 13, 2008. The condition was previously granted service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and urethral discharge were not incurred or aggravated by his military service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and major depression have been rated appropriately, with no new evidence of increased disability. The TDIU claim is also denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, to include as a result of exposure to an herbicide agent or ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding whether Parkinson's disease and prostate cancer contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, finding no evidence of herbicide exposure in service or a causal link to service.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. As such, the claim for DIC benefits due to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is being reviewed for service connection, with a focus on whether it was caused by herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The VA will seek additional evidence and conduct further examination to determine if the Veteran has been exposed to herbicides and if so, whether he developed prostate cancer as a result.