Prostate cancer decisions — 2013

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at a 20 percent rating from June 1, 2007 to March 30, 2010. From March 30, 2010, the Veteran is entitled to a 40 percent disability rating for urinary frequency.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was granted service connection effective March 12, 2008. The Board found that the earliest date of entitlement for this claim is February 13, 2008, when he first indicated filing a claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus type II, finding no evidence to support these conditions or their association with active military service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been caused by his exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange, during his service in Vietnam. The Board finds the Veteran's statements credible and consistent with his service records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating based on his symptoms. The primary issue was that he did not have deformity of the penis with loss of erectile power, which is required for a compensable rating under Diagnostic Code 7522.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated by active military service, and the Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure in Thailand. As a result, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred during active service. The Veteran was granted an initial rating of 70 percent for his PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals do not warrant a rating in excess of 20 percent, as there is no evidence of recurrence or metastasis and his symptoms are consistent with a 20 percent rating for urinary frequency.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hypertension, prostate cancer, and colon cancer were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II and residuals of prostate cancer as he did not serve in Vietnam or have any credible evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20 percent since August 16, 2013. He is also entitled to a 10 percent rating for radiation proctitis and higher ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine if the appellant was exposed to Agent Orange during his service in Vietnam, and whether he can establish service connection for his claimed conditions based on such exposure. The VA will conduct this development and then readjudicate the claims.

The Board finds that currently diagnosed prostate cancer is not caused or permanently worsened in severity by the service-connected basal cell cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated during his active service, and the Board finds that there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides. As a result, the claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer cannot be reopened as there is no new and material evidence to support it.

The Board found that the Veteran's fatal prostate cancer was not attributable to his active military service, including in-service exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's spinal cord injury and prostate cancer, as well as arranging for VA examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, with residuals of erectile dysfunction and incontinence, to include as due to Agent Orange exposure, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an adequate VA examination and medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, as well as whether these conditions are related to his service-connected BPH/prostatitis.