Prostate cancer decisions — 2014

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for residuals of prostate cancer is denied as the evidence does not support such an increase.

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

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess his employability due to service-connected disabilities. The current combined rating for the Veteran's service-connected conditions is 70 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have prostate cancer due to any incident of his active duty service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has granted service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The claims of entitlement to service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities and residuals of a back injury are remanded for additional development.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals have been granted a 20 percent evaluation effective February 15, 2012. The condition has resulted in urinary urgency and frequency requiring the use of approximately 3 pads per week.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing. The issues of service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer, both related to Agent Orange exposure, are pending.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for prostate and lung cancers, which he claims are due to exposure to herbicides during his military service. The Board has ordered additional development to verify the Veteran's claimed exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred as a result of his service, and the claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging a VA examination to determine the extent of urinary incontinence due to prostate cancer and whether PTSD is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer did not have its onset during service or due to exposure to herbicides, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of prostate cancer.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer should be June 8, 2005, as this is later than when the claim was first received but earlier than when the condition was diagnosed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, which he asserts is due to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Thailand, has been remanded. The VA needs to obtain the Veteran's complete service personnel records and contact the U.S. Army and Joint Services Records Research Center (JSRRC) to verify if he was exposed to Agent Orange while stationed at Takhli Air Force Base in Thailand.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and primary biliary cirrhosis to include auto immune cholangitis (claimed as liver and auto immune condition), finding no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causation. The claim for peripheral neuropathy is remanded.

The Board has determined that the Veteran had service in the Republic of Vietnam and his prostate cancer is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his military service, and he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board finds that the Veteran's initial claim for service connection for prostate cancer was received by VA on February 11, 2000. The effective date of his award is therefore set at this date.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not meet the criteria for financial assistance to purchase an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to his military service and was not caused by Agent Orange exposure. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied.