Prostate cancer decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, excluding bone metastasis rated at 100%, have rendered him unable to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment. The Board grants a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board found that the Veteran did not have service in the Republic of Vietnam and thus was not exposed to herbicides. The prostate cancer is not presumed due to Agent Orange exposure. The claim for secondary service connection based on prostatitis and herbicide exposure was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to either service-connected prostatitis or any herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and arranging for VA examinations to clarify the nature and etiology of his back condition and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of cancer of the larynx are currently rated at 30 percent prior to March 30, 2012 and is assigned a separate rating for prostate cancer other than erectile dysfunction.,Since March 30, 2012, the Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer other than erectile dysfunction have been rated at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes due to herbicide exposure is being remanded as the RO needs to obtain his complete service personnel records, including any information from U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) regarding his claimed exposure at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Veteran does not have prostate cancer that is the result of disease or injury incurred in or aggravated during active military service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was found to be normal for VA benefit purposes with word discrimination scores above 90%.

The Veteran claims service connection for prostate cancer, alleging exposure to herbicides while serving in Thailand. The case is remanded due to the need to verify his presence in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Veteran's cause of death, prostate cancer, is presumed to have been caused by his in-service herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service and grants service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a referral for an extraschedular evaluation for his service-connected prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy. The current schedular rating of 60 percent adequately reflects the Veteran's urinary leakage.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the need for clarification of the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer, which may be related to his service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate disability warranted a 60 percent rating from January 15, 1997 to November 21, 2004. From November 22, 2004 to January 24, 2005, he was granted a 100% rating for prostate cancer.

The Veteran seeks service connection for prostate cancer, which he claims is due to herbicide exposure. The RO/AMC needs to verify his service in Vietnam and obtain unit records from the 31st Air Rescue Squadron.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and may not be presumed to have been incurred due to exposure to herbicides. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was rated at 100% from June 7, 2006 to April 4, 2010. The rating was reduced to 40% effective June 1, 2008 and increased to 60% effective April 5, 2010.,The Veteran's bowel incontinence was rated at 10% prior to February 22, 2012. The rating was increased to 30% effective February 22, 2012.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for prostate cancer, finding that there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service and thus no presumption applies. The Veteran's prostate cancer was not shown in service or due to any disease or injury incurred in service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to ionizing radiation and/or herbicides, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for clarification of a VA physician assistant's opinion regarding whether the Veteran's prostate cancer is due to herbicide exposure during his service. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered after obtaining this clarification.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not service connected as it was not present during his military service and there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange. As a result, the claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction due to in-service herbicide exposure or as secondary to a service-connected condition were denied because there was no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty, and the diseases are not otherwise related to his military service.