Prostate cancer decisions — 2016

The Board has granted service connection for left ear hearing loss, finding that the Veteran's current hearing impairment is related to his in-service noise exposure. The claim of service connection for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure remains pending.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and lung cancer are found to be due to herbicide exposure during service in Thailand, and thus granted as service connected.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for higher ratings for his lumbar spine disability and associated neuropathy, service connection for hypertension, and service connection for prostate condition including prostatitis and prostate cancer. The Veteran is not shown to have any current disability involving frostbite of the right lower extremity. Service connection was granted for hypertension based on new evidence received after a previous denial. No effective date has been assigned.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer did not manifest during service and is unrelated to service. The claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of prostate cancer have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal began, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given his symptoms.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease are presumed to be due to herbicide exposure during service. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by service, including any chemical exposure. The evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including prostate cancer with impotence status post prostatectomy and rectal radiation burns with nerve trauma and fecal incontinence associated with prostate cancer with impotence status post prostatectomy, have resulted in a combined schedular evaluation of 90 percent. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence shows that these disabilities prevent the Veteran from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board grants a TDIU for the entire appeal period.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for various conditions, including psychiatric disorders, musculoskeletal issues, eye problems, and gastrointestinal issues. The Board has determined that further medical examination and opinion are necessary to address the nature and etiology of these claims.,The Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus have also been remanded for additional development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus, stomach disorder, high cholesterol, and an eye disorder prior to the Board's decision.

The Veteran's prostate cancer disability has been productive of urinary dysfunction resulting in the wearing of absorbent materials by the Veteran which must be changed 4 times a day, but not more. The criteria for an initial rating in excess of 40 percent for prostate cancer disability with residual voiding dysfunction have not been met during the appeal period.

The preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that the Veteran's prostate cancer was incurred in or otherwise the result of his active service, to include in-service radiation exposure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer has been reopened and granted due to his exposure to herbicides during service.,Service connection is also granted for kidney cancer, skin cancer, COPD, urinary incontinence as secondary to prostate cancer, and a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer, osteopenia, and bilateral hearing loss have been denied. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's depressive disorder is related to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The heart disorder claim remains pending as it involves secondary service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer, claimed as due to herbicide exposure, is denied because there is no persuasive medical evidence or opinion establishing a relationship between this disability and his service. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam during the Vietnam Era and there is no objective evidence of actual herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's room and board costs at Pueblo Regent from September 30, 2010 through December 2011 may be included as an unreimbursed medical expense for the purpose of computing his eligibility to receive special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance.

The Board found that the Veteran's prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, and bladder disorder are not related to his service. The tongue cancer was also denied as there is no evidence of its onset during service or connection to service.

The Veteran's tinnitus is found to be etiologically related to his service. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of bilateral hearing loss, which is related to active service due to hazardous noise exposure as per MOS classification. However, there is no definitive evidence linking the Veteran's prostate condition (claimed as prostate cancer) to his active service.