Prostate cancer decisions — 2017

The Veteran's service connection claim for prostate cancer is granted, as it meets the criteria due to his service in Vietnam and credible evidence of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for his service-connected prostate cancer was granted, and he is now rated at 100% from January 31, 2011 to July 2013.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer and diabetes mellitus, type II, on a presumptive basis due to herbicide exposure during service at U-Tapao RTAFB in Thailand.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides and his service at Royal Thai Air Force Bases in Thailand. The issues of service connection for heart disability and prostate cancer are being reviewed.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals have been rated at 20 percent prior to May 20, 2011 and at 40 percent from that date.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer, status post prostatectomy, and granted it on a presumptive basis as a result of herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is presumed to be related to herbicide exposure in service. The Veteran's PTSD has been granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective from April 17, 2012.

The Veteran's prostate cancer is found to be due to service, including presumed herbicide exposure. The heart disability and hypertension are also found to be related to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional VA examination to determine the nature and severity of his service-connected diabetes mellitus and its complications, including diabetic neuropathy. The TDIU benefit will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, IHD, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation since June 1, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, degenerative joint disease of the thoracolumbar spine, prostate cancer residuals, traumatic arthritis of both knees, tinnitus, epididymitis, otitis externa of the left ear, deformity of the right great toenail, and erectile dysfunction, rendered him unable to secure or follow any form of substantially gainful employment prior to April 1, 2013.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to determine if the Veteran's prostate cancer and colitis are related to his service, specifically exposure to non-ionizing radiation. The claims will be remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Board has determined that there is no competent medical evidence of a left hip disability or right hip disability related to service. The Veteran's testimony regarding the relationship between his hip symptoms and prostate cancer treatment was not supported by medical evidence.,For the acquired psychiatric disorder, the Veteran testified about experiencing depression since his erectile dysfunction due to prostate cancer. A VA examination is needed to determine if a current diagnosis exists and whether it is related to service-connected conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II is granted due to herbicide exposure. The claim for prostate cancer is also granted as it may be related to the conceded herbicide exposure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to outstanding VA treatment records and an addendum opinion from a VA examiner.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates and increased ratings have been denied. The prostate cancer with erectile dysfunction has already received the maximum schedular rating, and diabetes is rated at 20 percent due to its current manifestations.

The Veteran's service connection claims for prostate cancer, coronary artery disease, erectile dysfunction, and right ear hearing loss are all granted due to exposure to Agent Orange during his military service. The Veteran is also granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to his prostate cancer.

The Board has granted service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected residuals of F.C.C. mandible with paresthesia of left side of jaw, and denied service connection for bladder cancer and prostate cancer due to lack of evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's prostate cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), erectile dysfunction (ED), and hypertension are all attributable to service. The conditions were presumed due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for prostate cancer, finding that it was not related to his in-service radiation exposure and did not manifest within a year of separation from service.