Prostate cancer decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain relevant records and to provide the necessary medical examinations.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is granted service connection as secondary to Agent Orange exposure. Service connection for diabetes mellitus is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, claimed as secondary to radiation exposure during military service, is being remanded due to the need for a review by the VA Under Secretary for Benefits regarding whether sound scientific medical evidence supports the conclusion that it is at least as likely as not that his disease resulted from radiation exposure in service.

The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer, finding that the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water and environmental hazards at Camp Pendleton, California did not result in his current condition.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for prostate cancer, which he claims was caused by herbicide exposure during his service in Thailand. The Board has ordered the VA to obtain and review any relevant medical records and personnel records to determine if herbicides were used at the Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base where the Veteran served from October 1972 to October 1973.

The Veteran's death was caused by metastatic renal cancer and metastatic prostate cancer. The appellant seeks service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, including whether his exposure to Agent Orange contributed to his renal cancer.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to his exposure to herbicide agents during service, specifically 2,4-D; and 2,4,5-T, which are associated with causing prostate cancer. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's postoperative prostate cancer warrants a 40 percent rating from May 3, 2011.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are currently rated at 20 percent disabling, effective from August 4, 2015. The rating is based on the predominant symptom of voiding dysfunction.

The Board found no in-service incurrence or exposure to herbicides that could be connected to the Veteran's current diabetes and prostate cancer, thus denying service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's tinnitus claim is granted, but his prostate cancer rating remains at 20 percent.

The Board has reinstated the appellant's VA benefits, effective April 1, 2012. The character of his discharge is not a bar to receiving VA benefits and the severance of service connection for the listed conditions was not proper.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of a 40 percent rating for prostate cancer is dismissed as he did not appeal the March 2009 Board decision to the Court, and his April 2009 statement was accepted by the RO as a Notice of Disagreement but does not constitute one.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of prostate cancer and a skin condition due to herbicide exposure are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service, and the conditions did not manifest within one year of separation from service or are otherwise attributable to service.

The Board finds that the reduction of the prostate cancer disability rating from 100% to 0% effective August 1, 2008 was proper and restoration of a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for his service-connected conditions have been denied.,No effective date has been assigned as the claims are still pending.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type II, and hypertension as they are not related to his active service or exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's prostate and bladder cancers are being remanded for a VA examination to determine if they are due to exposure to Trichloroethylene (TCE) during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides, including Agent Orange, while stationed in Vietnam and therefore service connection is granted for his cause of death due to diabetes and metastatic prostate cancer.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and an examination to assess his ability to work due to his service-connected disabilities.