Prostate cancer decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer and/or residuals thereof is being remanded due to a VCAA notice deficiency, the need to obtain private treatment records, and the need for more specific identification of environmental exposures.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disorder is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, granting service connection for this condition. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities remains pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to exposure to herbicides during service in Korea, and the Board grants service connection for residuals of prostate cancer.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30 percent, and his residuals of prostate cancer were rated at 40 percent from February 1, 2013. The appeal for higher initial ratings is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his genitourinary disabilities, specifically distinguishing between bowel dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his exposure to herbicides during service, specifically in Vietnam. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals had improved and were no longer disabling, leading to a reduction from 100% to 0%. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran's claim for a 10 percent rating under 38 C.F.R. § 3.324 was denied as he received special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of a creative organ, which precluded the application of this benefit.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and determining whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service. The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and service connection for prostate cancer are on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal seeking a rating in excess of 40 percent for residuals of prostate cancer has been dismissed. The claim for a compensable rating for erectile dysfunction is denied.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including diabetes, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, restless leg syndrome, prostate cancer, and hypertension. The claims are being remanded to obtain updated medical records and a new examination.

The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, beginning December 1, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone do not prevent him from finding or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for prostate cancer. The Board finds that there is no legal basis to grant such a claim as the preponderance of evidence does not support an earlier effective date than January 10, 2007.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be due to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran does not have current diagnoses of hemorrhoids or right foot plantar wart disabilities for VA compensation purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer and coronary artery disease were not incurred or aggravated by his service, nor did they manifest within one year of separation. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for TDIU and his service-connected disabilities preclude him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD prior to April 19, 2013 was denied. The issue of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen his previously denied prostate cancer claim based on herbicide exposure is still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Board hearing. The issues of service connection are related to secondary herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for a back disability and prostate cancer with residual erectile dysfunction, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims based on direct service connection or any presumptive exposure to herbicides.