Prostate cancer decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The RO will also consider whether referral of the claim to the Under Secretary for Benefits or the Director of Compensation and Pension for consideration of an extraschedular award is warranted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is being reviewed due to his participation in Project Crested Ice, a recovery operation of B-52 wreckage. The RO has not referred the case for a radiation dose estimate as required by VA regulations.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service as a result of herbicide exposure, which represents a complete grant of the Veteran's claim.

The Board has determined that a VA examination and opinion are needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer, as well as whether his exposure to chemicals or asbestosis during service is related to his condition. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private medical records, as well as scheduling a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board has requested a medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's prostate cancer. The case is being remanded to allow for further review and consideration of the new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as due to exposure to herbicides, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate cancer and granted it, finding that new evidence supports a theory of service connection secondary to herbicide exposure. The Veteran currently has prostate cancer and was exposed to herbicides in Thailand during his active duty.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's TDIU claim due to insufficient evidence regarding his combined service-connected disabilities and their impact on employment, as well as for referral of the issue to the Director of VA's Compensation and Pension Service.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, but denied his request for an increased rating. A separate 10 percent rating was assigned for the Veteran's postoperative scar from June 26, 2012.

The Board denied service connection for type II diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer residuals as the Veteran did not have these conditions to a compensable degree within one year of separation from service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his military service, including any exposure to DDT or benzene.

The Veteran's prostate cancer post radical prostatectomy is currently rated at 40 percent effective August 1, 2010. The condition manifests as urinary frequency of four to five times per night.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected prostate cancer and its impact on his employability.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the Veteran's prostate cancer and his service, including exposure to asbestos. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer based on presumed exposure to herbicide agents during service at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 20% from May 6, 2009 to September 14, 2011.

The Veteran's prostate cancer, hypertension, and degenerative joint disease of the neck and back are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. The initial disability rating for bilateral hearing loss is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his exposure to hazardous materials on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam during service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for prostate cancer and stroke, citing intent to withdraw the appeal. The Board finds that it does not have jurisdiction in these matters.