Prostate cancer decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 1, 2008 for his service connection for prostate cancer. The decision stated that there was no evidence showing the Veteran met all eligibility criteria as of November 7, 1996 (the effective date of the liberalizing law adding prostate cancer as a presumptive disability), and thus the effective date could not be earlier than February 1, 2008.

The Board found that the evidence does not establish a link between the Veteran's active duty service and his current prostate cancer, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining more recent information about his exposure to toxic substances while stationed at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam from October 1969 to April 1970 and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his current prostate cancer and this exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected disabilities contributed to his death from metastatic prostate cancer, and thus grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not present during service or within one year of separation, and there is no competent evidence linking his current prostate cancer to service or asbestos exposure. The VA medical opinion found less than a 50% probability that the Veteran's prostate cancer is etiologically related to his exposure to asbestos in service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, status post radical retropubic prostatectomy, is rated at 60 percent from July 16, 2010. The VA examiner found the Veteran has voiding dysfunction requiring absorbent materials changed more than four times a day and daytime voiding intervals of four to five times per day; however, renal dysfunction was not shown.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for further evaluation due to the complexity of determining his ability to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation given his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a head injury with equilibrium problems related to active military service. The claims for service connection for type 2 diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer (status post prostatectomy), and hypertension are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a signed statement of his testimony.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's prostate cancer and its relation to herbicide exposure during service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The highest schedular rating of 30 percent was assigned for the Bell's palsy, left side of face, post-operative residuals. No compensable evaluation was granted for bilateral hearing loss or sinusitis. Service connection was not established for prostate cancer, Type II diabetes mellitus, or a lumbar spine disorder due to herbicide exposure.

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

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination regarding his claimed pharynx cancer and an increased rating for prostate cancer. The issues of service connection for pharynx cancer and an increased rating for prostate cancer are also being remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal of his claim for service connection for a bilateral knee disability is withdrawn. The claims file was reviewed and no additional evidence or argument was provided.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, bilateral pes planus, and skin cancer. The claim for acquired psychiatric disorder was not reopened due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was received on October 24, 2007. The effective date of the award is set at October 24, 2007.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, finding that new evidence does not establish a nexus between his current conditions and military service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, status post-radical prostatectomy does not warrant a rating in excess of 60 percent due to lack of evidence of active malignancy or antineoplastic chemotherapy.

The Board has ordered a remand to attempt to obtain medical evidence related to prostate cancer, which is presumed linked to Agent Orange exposure. The Veteran's death claim for service connection for the cause of his death remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining information from his most recent employer and scheduling VA examinations.