Prostate cancer decisions — 2016

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is rated at 50 percent, and his prostate cancer is rated at 40 percent. The claims for service connection for hypertension, sinusitis, left toe, foot and ankle gout, right eye glaucoma, and depression have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence.

The Board found no CUE in the prior rating decisions regarding service connection for prostate cancer, hypertension, and heart condition. The claims were denied as there was not clear evidence of exposure to herbicides or in-country service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's cause of death and initial evaluation for prostate cancer have been granted. The service connection for the cause of death is based on new evidence, while the initial evaluation for prostate cancer remains at 20 percent.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain deck logs for his ship, U.S.S. Tripoli, to determine if he was exposed to herbicides during his service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, finding that there is no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his period of active duty.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for prostate cancer and ulcerative colitis, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his in-service exposure at Camp Lejeune or any other service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are being denied as the effective date for service connection cannot be earlier than November 18, 2010.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer, attributing it to exposure to herbicides. The appeal is currently pending and requires further development.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals were not productive of a daytime voiding interval of less than one hour or awakening to void five or more times per night, nor did they require use of an appliance. From April 29, 2013, the residuals have required the wearing of absorbent materials which must be changed 2 to 4 times per day.

The Veteran's prostate condition, including prostatitis and prostate cancer, is presumed to be due to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Board finds service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are service-connected, with the latter being secondary to his prostate cancer. The Veteran is also entitled to special monthly compensation for loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board has determined that the October 2014 VA examination is inadequate for adjudicating the claim and requires a remand to address the issues of causation and aggravation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are denied as there is no evidence of herbicide exposure or a nexus to his claimed conditions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining complete service personnel records and VA treatment records, verifying herbicide exposure in Thailand, and obtaining any relevant documents. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's total rating for service-connected prostate cancer was restored from February 1, 2013 to the present due to improper termination without consideration of applicable regulations.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was increased to a 20% rating effective October 30, 2015. Service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure was granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred or aggravated by service and is not related to military service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to have been incurred during his active service due to Agent Orange exposure, and the Board grants this claim.