Prostate cancer decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his back disability and prostate cancer, did not render him unemployable prior to May 1, 1997. The effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits is set at May 1, 1997.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions and reviewing VA outpatient treatment records.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure while serving in Thailand. The claim for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer is granted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for a Decision Review Officer hearing. The issues are about tinnitus and an increased rating for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and chronic ischemic heart disease were granted on a presumptive basis due to Agent Orange exposure. The appellant, the Veteran's adult daughter, is not eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as she reached her 26th birthday before the effective date of the permanent and total disability rating.

The Veteran's PTSD with major depression is rated at 50 percent, and he has been granted a TDIU. The claims for prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy, bronchitis, swelling of joints in the upper extremities, sleep apnea, and low back disorder are all denied. Service connection was reopened for atrial fibrillation with hypertension and mitral valve insufficiency and low back disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer had its onset during active military service and is granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 22, 2011 is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining his vocational rehabilitation and education folder, and another opinion regarding his employability based on the cumulative effect of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, and for further development as needed.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is denied. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding of service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran was not rated 100% disabled for a period of at least ten years immediately preceding his death, and thus denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus and all secondary conditions was granted on a presumptive basis due to exposure to herbicides. However, the RO found that there was no in-country Vietnam service, leading to the severance of these benefits based on clear and unmistakable error.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence of active duty service in Vietnam during the Agent Orange era. The Board also found insufficient medical evidence to link current prostate cancer directly to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed related to his exposure to herbicide agents while serving at Korat RTAFB, Thailand, from October 1967 to September 1968.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's reported in-service stressor was not credible due to inconsistencies in his statements.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer and its residuals is remanded due to uncertainty regarding his presence in Vietnam, which could affect the presumption of herbicide exposure. The case will be further developed to determine if he was exposed to herbicides during his military service.

The Board found no evidence of radiation exposure during service and concluded that the Veteran does not have prostate cancer, colon cancer, or sterility attributable to military service.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 60 percent, effective from April 3, 2013. The disability is characterized by urinary frequency and incontinence.