Prostate cancer decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of prostate cancer is denied as his condition does not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 60 percent assigned since September 7, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request for a Travel Board hearing and procedural issues related to a simultaneously contested claim.

The appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing further opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claims and TDIU claim. The case will be returned to the Board once all necessary steps have been taken.

The Board has dismissed the appeals due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's prostate cancer with prostatectomy is rated at 20 percent from April 2009, and the appeal for a higher rating or extraschedular consideration has been denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate disorder, to include prostate cancer, is related to his military service and has granted service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and skin disability are not related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 14, 2010, for the grant of service connection for the residuals of status post-prostate cancer and prostatectomy. The decision states that VA received a claim on April 14, 2010, which is considered the effective date as it was the earliest date of receipt.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss and prostate cancer due to insufficient evidence in the record, particularly regarding functional impairment and additional treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to verify potential herbicide exposure in Thailand, as per M21-MR.IV.ii.2.c.10.q.

The Veteran's initial 100% rating for prostate cancer due to radical prostatectomy was reduced to a 10% rating effective May 1, 2006. The reduction was upheld as the evidence did not show disabling dysfunctions of the genitourinary system or significantly disabling urinary incontinence or frequency.

The Veteran was granted service connection for lung cancer, but denied for prostate, pancreatic, colon and lymph node cancers for purposes of accrued benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for prostate cancer status post radical prostatectomy is denied as the evidence does not show recurrence of prostate cancer or any worsening symptoms. The Veteran was previously rated at 60 percent and no higher rating is warranted based on current manifestations.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction are all service-connected due to presumed exposure to herbicides during his military service in Vietnam.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling the Veteran for a VA examination to determine the nature and likely etiology of his hypertension, as well as evaluating the status of his service-connected disabilities. The claims will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer is rated at 100 percent, which covers the entire rating period. As a result, his claim for total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is moot and dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling of a Board hearing. The issues on appeal are related to service connection for dental disorder, acute myelocytic leukemia, and prostate cancer.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicide agents during service, and thus could not establish a presumption of service connection for prostate cancer. The claim was denied as there is no evidence linking the current condition to military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer, thus denying the reopening of the claim.