Prostate cancer decisions — 2015

The Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in service and is unrelated to claimed herbicide exposure. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at 60 percent since April 1, 2012. The rating was reduced from 100% to 10% in January 2012 but corrected by a subsequent decision in April 2013.

The Board has determined that an effective date of December 17, 2010 is appropriate for the grant of a combined 20 percent disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of prostatic urethritis and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, cervical radiculopathy, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, are considered to have contributed substantially or materially to his death from pneumonia.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure. The Board finds that the Veteran has established in-service exposure to herbicides while stationed at Eglin AFB from 1964 to 1966, and grants service connection for prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction were not service connected as they are not related to his military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for secondary service connection for erectile dysfunction was denied because the primary condition (prostate cancer) is not service-connected.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer with prostatectomy does not result in any symptoms or manifestations warranting a compensable rating, and therefore denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional medical records and further development of the claims.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for higher ratings for prostate cancer and coronary artery disease.

The Veteran is entitled to an initial 20 percent evaluation for residuals of prostate cancer, status-post radical prostatectomy with erectile dysfunction due to urinary frequency issues. The disability has not required a daytime voiding interval less than one hour or awakening to void five or more times per night.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and an acquired psychiatric disorder are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions on the etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for bilateral hearing loss was granted, and he is now rated at 40 percent from January 27, 2012. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure was also granted as the disease is presumptively associated with such exposure under VA regulations.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer, status post brachytherapy, was reduced from 100% to 60%. The Board found that the reduction was proper and that a higher rating is not warranted at any point in time.

The Board has determined that the reduction from a 100% to a 40% disability rating for residuals of prostate cancer is proper, effective December 1, 2011. The Veteran's condition does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has ordered a remand due to incomplete development of the record, specifically obtaining additional evidence related to environmental exposures during service and providing a VA medical opinion regarding whether prostate cancer was caused or aggravated by such exposure. The case is now pending for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there is no confirmed exposure to herbicides during service, and the disease did not manifest within one year of separation. The evidence does not support a finding that the current condition is related to service.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was reduced from 100% to 20% effective October 1, 2008 and then increased to 40% effective February 23, 2011. The reduction in rating was proper.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not incur a lung disability during service or as a result of service, and there is no evidence to support his claim for left ankle disability. The claims have been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Board has denied the claim of entitlement to DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that there is no evidence linking prostate cancer to service and rejecting the appellant's assertion of Agent Orange exposure.