Prostate cancer decisions — 2016

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's rating from 100 percent to 10 percent for prostate cancer, status post radical prostatectomy was proper. The Veteran failed to report for a VA examination and did not respond to notification regarding the proposed reduction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer is related to radiation exposure he sustained during service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the reduction from 100 percent to 40 percent disability compensation for prostate cancer is not proper, resulting in a denial of the Veteran's appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination regarding his PTSD and its impact on employment.

The Veteran is granted a disability rating of 60 percent for ischemic cardiomyopathy from June 1, 2009 to September 5, 2013.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 31, 2007 for his total disability rating (schedular 100%) for prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is not service connected as there is no evidence of an in-service event or injury related to the condition.,The Veteran's heart disorder had its onset during active service and is therefore considered service-connected.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the claims of service connection for bilateral pes planus, residuals of prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction, bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, acute sinusitis, and residuals of a left ear cystectomy. The Board does not have jurisdiction to consider these matters.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer effective April 1, 2010. The Veteran's claim was received on March 31, 2010, and he met the criteria for service connection as of that date.

The Board has ordered further development to determine if the Veteran was exposed to herbicides while serving at Udorn RTAFB in Thailand. The appeal is now remanded for this purpose.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to determine if he was exposed to herbicides and/or asbestos during his military service, and whether his prostate cancer is related to these exposures or his service-connected prostatitis.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer meet the criteria for a 60 percent rating from February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at 40 percent since December 2, 2009. The VA examiner noted that the Veteran had voiding 5 or more times per night and no other urinary symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn, and the Board granted service connection for bilateral ankle strain. The right knee arthritis rating remains at 10 percent, prostate cancer is not service connected, and there are no effective dates provided.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus and prostate cancer were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, but had a current diagnosis of prostate cancer presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities were rated at 100% and he had not been employed since 1979, making the grant of TDIU moot.

The Veteran's service connection for leukemia has been granted. His erectile dysfunction is rated as noncompensable, and his residuals of prostate cancer are currently rated at 40 percent.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer has been granted with an effective date of January 14, 2008. The remaining issues regarding ratings and effective dates are addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 20 percent for residuals of prostate cancer and did not address his TDIU claim as it was raised by inference.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a hearing before a Decision Review Officer (DRO) and a Veterans Law Judge (VLJ).

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for earlier effective date for service connection for prostate cancer, restoration of a 100 percent disability rating for prostate cancer, and reopening of service connection for Graves' disease and hypertension. The decision also denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.