Prostate cancer decisions — 2011

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, hepatitis C, and bilateral hearing loss due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and awarded a 20 percent disability rating for prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's current symptoms are considered, with the benefit of doubt given to his claim.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer have been rated at 60 percent effective September 1, 2008.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection in full, including reopening of previously denied claims and granting new evaluations.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the decision on the propriety of reducing the disability rating for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer from 100 percent to 20 percent.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may be presumed to have been incurred in service. However, the evidence does not confirm that the Veteran had service in Vietnam or exposure to herbicides.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and psychiatric disabilities, including schizoaffective disorder and PTSD. The denial is based on a lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, are being remanded due to the need for additional development of records from a Vet Center.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including hypertension, bilateral hearing loss, prostate cancer, bladder stones, kidney stones, and a urinary tract disability. The issues of severance of service connection for right knee meniscectomy residuals were also addressed.

The Veteran is seeking benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional disability resulting from prostate surgery and related treatment by VA in July and August 1994, as well as the penile prosthetic implant performed by VA in August 2004. The case has been remanded to obtain relevant records and provide an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran has an additional disability due to carelessness or negligence on the part of VA.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer with residual urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, and hypertension all due to herbicide exposure during service. The evidence did not support a finding of such exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service as a result of herbicide exposure during his in-country service in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is service-connected, with presumptive exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension, prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus secondary to Agent Orange exposure, chronic anemia as secondary to prostate cancer and Agent Orange exposure, skin cancer, lumbar spine disability, and residuals of a right leg burn have been denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's combined disability evaluation is 70 percent, and he does not meet the criteria for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions and new evidence submitted by the appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed due to his Vietnam service, and he has been granted service connection. However, there is no evidence linking the Veteran's hepatitis C to his military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not present during service and there is no evidence linking it to service or a service-connected disability. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) on the basis of need for aid and attendance of another person, or at the housebound rate is being remanded due to the need for additional development.