Prostate cancer decisions — 2012

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, including his prostate cancer. The appellant is granted accrued benefits for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and left knee disorder as secondary to presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer with radical prostatectomy have been rated at 60 percent since April 28, 2011. The rating is based on the need for absorbent materials to be changed more than four times a day due to urinary leakage.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded as the service connection for prostate cancer due to radiation exposure is not clear based on the current evidence. The Board will schedule a VA examination and review the claims file to determine if there is sufficient evidence to establish service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer is denied as the earliest date entitlement arose was February 23, 2009, which is later than the date of receipt of his formal claim on June 17, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, is being remanded due to lack of substantial compliance with the previous remand directives. The appeal must be returned to the RO/AMC for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to outstanding VA treatment records and further development is needed regarding potential herbicide exposure during service.

The RO reduced the Veteran's rating for prostate cancer from 100% to 20%, effective August 1, 2008. The reduction was upheld as supported by evidence showing improvement in his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if he is unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities prior to and after March 30, 2011. The RO will consider whether the Veteran can secure and follow substantially gainful employment given all of his service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was diagnosed after he initiated testosterone therapy. The Board finds that further development is needed to determine if the therapy caused or aggravated his condition.

The Board found no credible evidence that the Veteran was in Vietnam or had visitation there. The Veteran's exposure to herbicides is not supported by the available evidence, and thus service connection for prostate cancer cannot be granted based on herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the rating for service-connected prostate cancer, leaving the issue dismissed.

The Veteran's prostate disorder was rated at 40 percent prior to November 19, 2010 due to urinary incontinence requiring the use of absorbent materials which must be changed more than 4 times a day.

The Veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of prostate cancer are currently rated at 60 percent disabling, effective from April 14, 2008.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is still active, warranting a 100% disability rating. The reduction of his evaluation was improper and he is entitled to restoration of the 100% rating as of February 1, 2008.

The Board denied reopening of claims for double hernia, residuals of pneumonia including pulmonary disease, and loss of a creative organ (erectile dysfunction), as the evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims. The Veteran's prostate cancer was also found not to be service-connected.

The Board denied service connection for COPD and prostate cancer, finding that the appellant did not have a diagnosis of these conditions during service or within one year after discharge. The exposure to ionizing radiation is also not supported by evidence.

The Board found that the Veteran's bladder, prostate, and abdominal cancer were not incurred or aggravated by active service.

The Board found that the reduction from 100% to zero percent for the Veteran's prostate cancer, effective October 1, 2007, was proper and that a compensable disability evaluation is not warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to his request for a travel Board hearing. The service connection claims for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease are still pending.