Prostate cancer decisions — 2014

The Board found no evidence of prostate cancer during active duty service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection. The Veteran was not exposed to Agent Orange or other herbicides while serving on ships in Da Nang Harbor.

The Board has dismissed the issue of whether the reduction for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy with implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS), to 60 percent disabling was proper. The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is not productive of a compensable disability rating.

The Board has found that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and that prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus type II are diseases associated with such exposure. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides during service and thus could not establish a claim for service connection based on herbicide exposure. The claims for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer were denied as there was no evidence of such diseases being related to service.

The Veteran's representative withdrew the appeal seeking a rating in excess of 20 percent for prostate cancer, status post brachytherapy.

The Veteran's prostate cancer claim is being remanded for further development regarding his service exposure and to obtain a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the ratings of his service-connected Hodgkin's disease and prostate cancer were denied as there was no evidence showing an increase in severity prior to March 23, 2011.,VA received the Veteran's increased rating claims on March 23, 2011. The RO assigned the effective dates based on when VA first received the claims for increased ratings.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute myelogenous leukemia, but the Board finds that his service-connected coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus had a material influence in accelerating his death. Therefore, the cause of his death is considered to be related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's Type II diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and prostate cancer contributed substantially or materially to his death from hepatocellular carcinoma. Additional records are needed from the Veteran's hospital stay at Riverview Regional Medical Center.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not have service connection for prostate cancer or peripheral neuropathy due to exposure to herbicide agents, and thus denied both claims.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and a need for dose assessment regarding potential radiation exposure during service. The Veteran's kidney and prostate cancer are being reviewed under the 'new and material' theory of service connection.

The Veteran's additional disabilities were not caused by VA negligence or fault in the surgical and radiation treatments provided, so he is denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran regarding his service in Thailand. The RO is instructed to contact the Air Force Historical Research Agency to determine if the Veteran's statements about living off base and working near the perimeter are credible, and whether the flight line was located on the perimeter of U-Tapao Base.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a special VA aid and attendance/housebound examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to the Veteran's receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits and outstanding medical records.

The Board found that the reduction from a 100% to a 20% evaluation for prostate cancer was proper and denied the Veteran's request for restoration of his original 100% rating.

The Board finds that the Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus is not entitled to presumptive service connection for his prostate cancer. The claims for low back disability, arthritis of the hips, hands, and feet, and chronic sinusitis are denied as there is no evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to April 23, 2012 is being remanded due to inadequate compliance with the Board's previous remand directives. The case will be referred to the Director, Compensation and Pension Service, for an extraschedular determination.

The Veteran seeks service connection for prostate cancer, alleging exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's prostate cancer is less likely than not caused by his exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. A new opinion is needed from a qualified examiner.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while stationed at the Royal Thai Air Force Base in Takhli during his service, and therefore grants service connection for ischemic heart disease and prostate cancer on a presumptive basis.