Prostate cancer decisions — 2017

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart condition, prostate cancer, glaucoma, and left knee replacement. The case is remanded to obtain updated VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for prostate cancer is denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip arthritis was denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability. The claim for prostate cancer was reopened based on new and material evidence, which included updated VA records showing the Veteran's diagnosis of prostate cancer with ongoing treatment. Service connection is granted for prostate cancer as it is presumed related to herbicide exposure during service.,The claims for multiple myeloma and respiratory cancer were denied as there is no probative evidence of these conditions during the appeal period.

The Veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of prostate cancer is currently rated at 40 percent, effective March 15, 2013. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to his voiding dysfunction requiring absorbent materials changed no more than 2-4 times per day.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, Parkinson's disease, and prostate cancer, as these conditions are not shown to be related to his military service or herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Veteran's prostate cancer and residuals of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma are presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents during service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 40 percent rating for service-connected residuals of prostate cancer, finding that the reduction was improper due to a lack of evidence showing actual improvement in his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during his service in Thailand and finds sufficient credible evidence to conclude he was exposed to herbicides while stationed at the Takhli RTAFB. Therefore, diabetes mellitus, larynx cancer, and prostate cancer are granted as due to in-service herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and peripheral neuropathy in all four extremities, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and prostate cancer were not found to be related to his active duty service, including exposure to asbestos and/or laundry cleaning chemicals.

The Veteran's claims for prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination. The examiner will determine if there is at least a 50% probability that the Veteran's prostate cancer was incurred in service, including as due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II are being remanded due to the need for additional verification of in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran is granted service connection for prostate cancer due to herbicide exposure, and his erectile dysfunction and incontinence are also found to be related to this condition.,Service connection for Parkinson's disease and the Veteran's other conditions are denied.

The Veteran is in need of a higher level of aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, including multiple sclerosis. The Board has determined that the preponderance of evidence supports this claim.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are not shown to be of such severity as to preclude his participation in any substantially gainful employment, and the Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against a finding that he is precluded from all types of employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam, specifically for the USS Coral Sea. The claims are being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board finds that the Veteran's prostate cancer is not related to service and thus, he cannot establish service connection for this condition. Regarding erectile dysfunction (ED), the VA examiner did not provide a clear opinion regarding whether it was caused or aggravated by any service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to verify his exposure to herbicides in Korea and to schedule VA examinations for the claimed conditions.