Prostate cancer decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and determining the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and hypertension.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including review of the claims file by a psychologist and consideration of an additional statement submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral hand disorder and prostate cancer were denied. The claim for an effective date prior to August 15, 2000 for the right foot sprain was also denied as it was not factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred within one year before the application.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and incontinence. The evidence did not support a finding of direct service connection due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss disability was not incurred in or aggravated by active duty, and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed. The claim for prostate cancer is pending as it relates to a current disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to the need for further development regarding his claimed exposure to herbicides during service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for further development regarding his alleged period of TDY in Vietnam and the circumstances surrounding his award of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for further development of his Vietnam service records and verification of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently rated at 60 percent effective February 16, 2011.,Service connection for a heart disability and diabetes mellitus are not granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for asthma has been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection. The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not otherwise related to active military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and granted it, finding that new evidence received since the prior denial supports a reopening of the claim. The Veteran is presumed to have been exposed to herbicides in Vietnam, which is associated with prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, prostate cancer residuals, and other conditions, have rendered him unemployable. The Board has granted a TDIU based on the severity of his disabilities.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer are manifested by voiding dysfunction with continual urine leakage requiring the wearing of absorbent materials that must be changed more than four times per day, and night time voiding and pad changes of three to six times per night. The Board finds this meets the criteria for a 60 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and bladder cancer, finding that the cancers were not related to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and associated erectile dysfunction are not found to be related to his military service, specifically the exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange. The claim is denied.

The Veteran is seeking to establish service connection for prostate cancer, which he claims is secondary to herbicide exposure during his military service. The claim has been remanded due to the need to review additional evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development, including obtaining a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's kidney cancer and addressing his contentions regarding secondary service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for residuals of prostate cancer prior to November 5, 2012 was denied as the disability did not meet the criteria for an increased rating. From November 5, 2012 onwards, he is rated at 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 100% to a 40% disability rating for prostate cancer, effective September 1, 2006 was proper. The Veteran's prostate cancer is currently in remission and does not meet criteria for recurrence or metastasis.