Prostate cancer decisions — 2015

The Board found that the reduction in the Veteran's prostate cancer rating from 100% to 40% was proper. The Veteran is now entitled to a disability rating of 60% for his prostate cancer residuals from June 1, 2010 to September 11, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of his depression and prostate cancer.

The Veteran's prostate cancer rating was reduced from 100% to 40%, effective March 1, 2011. The reduction was based on improvement in the disability.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, prostate cancer, and urinary dribbling has been reopened and granted.

The Board found no evidence of herbicide exposure during active duty and denied service connection for all claimed conditions as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to lack of in-service diagnosis or treatment.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted as secondary to herbicide exposure, specifically Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection, a TTR based on prostate cancer treatment, and a rating in excess of 50 percent for schizophrenia must be remanded due to incomplete development. Additionally, his claim for TDIU is also inextricably intertwined with these issues.

The Board has determined that the Veteran did not serve in a military occupational specialty where he might have been exposed to Agent Orange, and there is no evidence of exposure during service. The Board also found no credible evidence linking any current disabilities (ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer) to service or to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the issues of service connection and increased rating, as well as a TDIU claim. The Veteran's claims are being remanded to allow for further examination and consideration.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, warranting a TDIU.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA opinion to determine if the Veteran's esophageal cancer is related to his in-service herbicide exposure and whether he suffered from any other cancers that may be related to service.

The Veteran was found unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to service-connected disabilities as of June 3, 2009.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for benign prostatic hypertrophy was denied, but his claim for prostate cancer was granted. The Board found that the evidence is at least in equipoise and thus, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran, service connection for prostate cancer is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran did not have exposure to herbicides and thus could not establish presumptive service connection for his claimed conditions. The medical evidence showed no current diagnoses of diabetes, heart condition, or prostate cancer, and there was no competent credible evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has determined that the reduction in the rating for post-operative residuals of prostate cancer from 40 percent to 20 percent was proper. The Veteran's service-connected prostate cancer residuals have improved, and he is now using one absorbent pad per day.

The Veteran's service-connected Type II diabetes mellitus is found to be the cause of his obstructive sleep apnea, and therefore he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding the Veteran's claimed exposure to herbicides and his duties at the 13th S&S Battalion. The Veteran will be asked to submit additional records supporting his claim, and his full personnel records for his period of active duty will be obtained.

The Veteran's last sickness expenses, totaling over $10,000, were borne by the appellant. The Board found that these expenses exceeded the amount of awarded but unpaid benefits ($6,911) and granted the appellant this amount as reimbursement.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 100 percent to 40 percent for prostate cancer was proper, as there has been no local reoccurrence or metastasis of the Veteran's prostate cancer since October 1, 2011. The Veteran is now rated at 40 percent based on residuals of voiding dysfunction.